Hybrid laser ablation and chemical reduction to synthesize Ni/Pd nanoparticles decorated multi-wall carbon nanotubes for effective enhancement of hydrogen storage

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2018-07, Vol.43 (27), p.12211-12221
• Main Authors: Mehrabi, M., Parvin, P., Reyhani, A., Mortazavi, S.Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical reduction; Hydrogen storage; Laser ablation; Multi-wall carbon nanotubes; Nanoparticles; Nickel/palladium
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.04.144

Simultaneous laser ablation and chemical reduction processes are introduced here to decorate the multi-wall carbon nanotubes with metal nanoparticles (palladium and nickel) in order to enhance the hydrogen storage capacity. This lucidly elevates the abundance of metal nanoparticles, as well as creating more nano cavities in the carbon nanotubes leading to an effective surface enlargement. Transmission electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and microprobe as well as the thermal gravimetric analyses support the findings how to alter the size, shape, structure, elemental analysis and the population of nanoparticles dispersed around the carbon nanotubes. The pore size and surface morphology of the nanotubes are inspected based on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barret–Joyner–Halenda analyses. Furthermore, the volumetric method is employed to investigate the hydrogen trapping within the carbon nanotubes of interest. The results attest that more metal nanoparticles are populated around the carbon nanotubes by making use of this hybrid method. The hydrogen content is measured to be 8.6% (2.5%) in nanoparticles decorated multi-wall carbon nanotubes having palladium (nickel) 67% (25.3%) by weight. •Laser ablation and chemical reduction processes are applied to decorate MWCNTs.•There are more metal-NPs population around the MWCNTs using the hybrid method.•The pore size distribution in MWCNTs lucidly shifts to the larger values.•The optimal value of the Pd (Ni) NPs are given to be 67% (25.3%) wt respectively.•The corresponding hydrogen uptake is determined to be 8.6 (2.5%) wt.