Hydrogen storage in high surface area graphene scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Graphene-based materials are actively researched for hydrogen storage due to their high surface area.
• Optimizing synthesis methods is crucial for maximizing the performance of porous carbon materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize highly porous graphene scaffolds with enhanced surface area and pore volume.
• To evaluate the hydrogen uptake capacity of these graphene materials across a wide temperature range.

Main Methods:

• Optimized potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation procedure for graphene scaffold synthesis.
• Hydrogen annealing for additional material activation.
• Hydrogen uptake measurements conducted between 77 K and 296 K.

Main Results:

• Achieved specific surface area (SSA) up to 3400 m²/g and pore volume up to 2.2 cm³/g.
• Maximal excess hydrogen (H2) uptake of 7.5 wt% at 77 K after hydrogen annealing.
• Significant hydrogen storage of 4 wt% observed at 193 K and 120 bar H2.

Conclusions:

• Optimized KOH activation yields superior porous graphene scaffolds for hydrogen storage.
• The synthesized materials demonstrate high hydrogen uptake at temperatures achievable with industrial refrigeration.
• These findings highlight the potential of advanced graphene materials for practical hydrogen energy applications.