Sorption of hydrogen onto titanate nanotubes decorated with a nanostructured Cd3[Fe(CN)6]2 Prussian Blue analogue

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 318 - 326
• Main Authors: AL-HAJJAJ, A. A, ZAMORA, B, BAUYKIN, D. V, SHAH, A. A, WALSH, F. C, REGUERA, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 2012
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Cadmium; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Cadmium hexacyanoferrate; Ferricyanide; Hydrogen storage; Titanate nanotubes; High pressure
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.09.094

Nanostructured films of cadmium hexacyanoferrate (III), Cd3[Fe(CN)6]2 have been deposited on the surface of titanate nanotubes (TiNT) by ion exchange with CdSO4, followed by reaction with K3[Fe(CN)6] in an aqueous suspension. The composite demonstrates a significantly higher hydrogen storage uptake than pure Cd3[Fe(CN)6]2 and TiNT. At a temperature of 77 K and a pressure 100 bar, the hydrogen uptake for the composite is approximately 12.5 wt %, whereas only 4.5 wt % and 4 wt % are achieved for the TiNT and Cd3[Fe(CN)6]2 respectively. Electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy show that Cd3[Fe(CN)6]2 is uniformly distributed on the surface of the nanotubes forming a discontinuous nanostructured film with a well developed interface, which allows efficient interaction with the support. The possible reasons for the high uptake of hydrogen in the composite are discussed.