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Title: Physisorption of molecular hydrogen on carbon nanotube with vacant defects

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4879656· OSTI ID:22304293
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. International Center for Quantum Materials and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)
  2. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 1TP (United Kingdom)
  3. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

Physisorption of molecular hydrogen on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is important for its engineering applications and hydrogen energy storage. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we study the physisorption of molecular hydrogen on a SWCNT with a vacant defect, focusing on the effect of the vacant defect size and external parameters such as temperature and pressure. We find that hydrogen can be physisorbed inside a SWCNT through a vacant defect when the defect size is above a threshold. By controlling the size of the defects, we are able to extract hydrogen molecules from a gas mixture and store them inside the SWCNT. We also find that external parameters, such as low temperature and high pressure, enhance the physisorption of hydrogen molecules inside the SWCNT. In addition, the storage efficiency can be improved by introducing more defects, i.e., reducing the number of carbon atoms on the SWCNT.

OSTI ID:
22304293
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 140, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English