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Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
Reversible hydrogen desorption from LiBH4 catalyzed by graphene supported Pt nanoparticles
Juan Xu1, Zhongqing Qi, Jianyu Cao
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Solar Cell Materials and Technology, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China. zdchen.lab@gmail.com.
Graphene-supported platinum nanoparticles (Pt/G) significantly enhance lithium borohydride (LiBH4) for hydrogen storage. This catalyst improves de/rehydrogenation performance, lowering temperatures and increasing capacity, enabling reversible hydrogen release.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Lithium borohydride (LiBH4) is a promising material for hydrogen storage due to its high hydrogen density.
- However, its practical application is limited by high dehydrogenation temperatures and poor reversibility.
- Catalysts are crucial for improving the hydrogen release kinetics and thermodynamics of LiBH4.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of graphene-supported platinum nanoparticles (Pt/G) as a catalyst on the de/rehydrogenation performance of LiBH4.
- To explore the synergetic effects of platinum addition and nanoconfinement in graphene on LiBH4 hydrogen storage properties.
- To evaluate the reversibility and thermodynamic improvements of LiBH4 doped with Pt/G catalysts.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of graphene-supported platinum nanoparticles (Pt/G).
- Doping LiBH4 with varying concentrations of Pt/G catalysts.
- Thermal analysis (dehydrogenation temperature, desorption peaks) and hydrogen release measurements.
- Thermodynamic analysis (equilibrium pressure, dehydrogenation enthalpy).
- Rehydrogenation cycling tests under specific temperature and pressure conditions.
Main Results:
- Pt/G doping significantly lowered the onset hydrogen desorption temperature of LiBH4 by up to 140 °C.
- Increased Pt/G loading reduced dehydrogenation temperatures and increased hydrogen release capacity, reaching 17.8 wt% below 500 °C for 50 wt% Pt/G doped sample.
- Dehydrogenation enthalpy decreased from 74 kJ/mol H2 for pure LiBH4 to ca. 48 kJ/mol H2 for 10 wt% Pt/G doped LiBH4.
- A reversible hydrogen capacity of ca. 8.1 wt% was achieved by the 30th cycle under 3 MPa H2 at 400 °C.
- Rehydrogenation resulted in the reformation of LiBH4 and the formation of Li2B10H10.
Conclusions:
- Pt/G catalysts effectively enhance the thermal de/rehydrogenation performance of LiBH4.
- The synergetic effect of Pt and graphene nanoconfinement improves kinetics, thermodynamics, and reversibility.
- This catalyst system shows potential for practical hydrogen storage applications under milder conditions.
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