Hydrogen storage behavior of magnesium catalyzed by nickel-graphene nanocomposites

Abstract

In present study nanocomposites of Graphene Like Material (GLM) and nickel containing 5–60 wt % Ni were prepared by a co-reduction of graphite oxide and Ni2+ ions. These nanocomposites served as effective catalysts of hydrogenation-dehydrogenation of magnesium based materials and showed a high stability on cycling. Composites of magnesium hydride with Ni/GLM were prepared by high-energy ball milling in hydrogen. The microstructures and phase compositions of the studied materials were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM showing that Ni nanoparticles have size of 2–5 nm and are uniformly distributed in the composites. The kinetic curves of hydrogen absorption and desorption by the composites were measured using a Sievert's type laboratory setup and were analyzed using the Avraami – Erofeev approach.