Ultrafast hydrogenation of magnesium enabled by tetragonal ZrO2 hierarchical nanoparticles. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, X.L.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, L.C.; Huang, Z.G.; Fang, F.; Hu, J.J.; Yang, Y.X.; Gao, M.X.; Pan, H.G.; Liu, Y.F.
• Is Part Of: Materials today nano. Volume 18(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Hydrogen storage -- Magnesium hydride -- Transition metal -- Nanosized oxides -- Catalysts; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Periodical; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2022.100200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2588-8420

Abstract

Abstract: Transition metal catalysts are particularly effective in improving the reaction kinetics of light metal hydrides for reversible hydrogen storage. Herein, tetragonal ZrO2 hierarchical nanoparticles (nano-ZrO2 ) composed of primary particles of ∼4 nm in diameter are successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot solvothermal process. The unique hierarchical structure features homogeneous distributions of in situ formed multivalent Zr-based species, which allow superior catalytic activity for hydrogen storage in MgH2 . The MgH2 +10 wt% nano-ZrO2 starts releasing H2 at 163 °C after one activation, which is 107 °C lower than additive-free MgH2, and 50 °C lower than that of bulk ZrO2 -doped MgH2 . At 230 °C, 5.9 wt% of H is rapidly liberated within 20 min from the nano-ZrO2 -containing MgH2 . More importantly, the material shows superior hydrogenation kinetics compared with all reported catalyst-modified MgH2 . The nano-ZrO2 -containing Mg took up 4.0 wt% of H in only 12 s at 100 °C under 50 bar H2, 400 times faster than the bulk-ZrO2 -modified sample. Even at 50 °C, approximately 1.8 wt% H was absorbed within 1 min. Our findings provide useful insights into the design and development of high-performance catalysts toward solid-state hydrogen storage materials. Graphical abstract: Hierarchical nanostructured ZrO2 enables Mg to absorb 4 wt% H within 12 s at 100 °C under 50 bar H2 . Image 1 Highlights: Hierarchical ZrO2 nanoparticles with superior catalytic activity were synthesized. Nano-ZrO2 -doped MgH2 released H2 from 163 °C. Nano-ZrO2 -doped Mg absorbed 4 wt% H within 12 s at 100 °C under 50 bar H2 . hydrogenation of nano-ZrO2 -doped Mg is 400 times faster than that of bulk-ZrO2 -doped Mg.