Hydrogen Confinement in Carbon Nanopores: Extreme Densification at Ambient Temperature

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja202432x· OSTI ID:1023839

Gallego, Nidia C. ^[1]; He, Lilin ^[1]; Saha, Dipendu ^[1]; Contescu, Cristian I. ^[1]; Melnichenko, Yuri B. ^[1]

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1. ORNL

In-situ small angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies of hydrogen confined in small pores of polyfurfuryl alcohol-derived activated carbon (PFAC) at room-temperature provided for the first time its phase behavior in equilibrium with external H2 at pressures up to 200 bar. The data was used to evaluate the density of the adsorbed fluid, which appears to be a function of both pore size and pressure, and approaches the liquid hydrogen density in narrow nanopores at 200 bar. The surface-molecule interactions responsible for densification of hydrogen within the pores create internal pressures which exceed by a factor of up to ~ 60 the external gas pressures, confirming the benefits of adsorptive over compressive storage. These results can be utilized to guide the development of new carbon adsorbents tailored for maximum hydrogen storage capacities at near ambient temperatures.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1023839
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 35 Vol. 133; ISSN 0002-7863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CARBON
CONFINEMENT
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN STORAGE
NEUTRONS
SANS
SCATTERING
STORAGE
hydrogen storage