Comparative study of reversible hydrogen storage in alkali-doped fulleranes

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 580; pp. S364 - S367
• Main Authors: Teprovich, Joseph A., Knight, Douglas A., Peters, Brent, Zidan, Ragaiy
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alkali doped; C60; Chemisorption; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerane; Fullerenes; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen storage materials; Lithium; Materials science; Other materials; Physics; Polymer; Reversible hydrogen storage; Sodium; Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation; Specific materials; Stores; X-ray diffraction; XRD; Reversible hydrogen storage; Polymer; XRD; C60; Fullerane; Alkali doped; C; Doping; Hydrogenation; Phase transitions; Hydrogen bonds; Active system; Polymers; Active material; Chemisorption; Temperature dependence; Hydrogen storage; Solubility; Thermogravimetry; Doped materials; Desorption; Sodium; Fullerenes; Hydrogen storage material; Comparative study; Lithium additions
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.02.024

► Catalytic effect of alkali metals of fullerane formation. ► Hydrogen storage properties of alkali metal hydrides and fullerene composites. ► Novel intercalation of Na and Li in the fullerene lattice. ► Reversible phase transformation of C60 from fcc to bcc upon de/rehydrogenation. ► Potential to enable to the formation of other carbon based hydrogen storage systems. In this report we describe and compare the hydrogen storage properties of lithium and sodium doped fullerenes prepared via a solvent-assisted mixing process. For the preparation of these samples either NaH or LiH was utilized as the alkali metal source to make material based on either a Na6C60 or Li6C60. Both of the alkali-doped materials can reversibly absorb and desorb hydrogen at much milder conditions than the starting materials used to make them (decomposition temperatures of NaH>420°C, LiH>670°C, and fullerane>500°C). The hydrogen storage properties of the materials were compared by TGA, isothermal desorption, and XRD analysis. It was determined that the sodium-doped material can reversibly store 4.0wt.% H2 while the lithium doped material can reversibly store 5.0wt.% H2 through a chemisorption mechanism indicated by the formation and measurement of C–H bonds. XRD analysis of the material demonstrated that a reversible phase transition between fcc and bcc occurs depending on the temperature at which the hydrogenation is performed. In either system the active hydrogen storage material resembles a hydrogenated fullerene (fullerane).