Hydrogen.gov | B. Carbon Materials

B. Carbon Materials

Goals (2010 EERE): System Gravimetric Density (>2.0 kWh/kg = 6 wt%), System Volumetric Density (>1.5 kWh/lit = 0.045 kg-H2/lit), Cost (< $4/kwH = $133/kg-H2)

1. Carbon Nanotube/Nanoparticle Design and Modeling
Goals: Chemical stability (resistance to poisoning and oxidation), Resistance to segregation, Structural stability (resistance to sintering and decrepitation), Storage capacity

a) Thermodynamic performance
Description: Theoretical modeling and experimental verification

i. Finite particle size and shape effects on electronic states

ii. Physisorption models

iii. Chemisorption models

iv. Heattransport across grain boundaries

b) Heterogeneous compositions and structures

c) Catalysts

i. Catalyzed dissociation and interior storage phase

ii. Surface coating of highly reactive material, such as platinum, that can reversibly bind hydrogen with a small temperature excursion.

d) Shape, Surface, and Structure

i. Exploit the effects of curvature, shape, and pore size on surface chemistry and binding.

ii. Investigate the effects of surface morphology and defects on storage capacity.

iii. Compare crystalline and amorphous structures.

e) Adsorption capacity
Description: Theoretical modeling and experimental verification

i. Use computational chemistry models to predict the adsorption of hydrogen on single-walled carbon nanotubes.

ii. Explore large ranges of temperature, pressure, and surface morphology using a consistent metric.

iii. Establish reproducible (within 10%) measurements of carbon nanotube adsorption capacity under standard operating conditions.

f) Multilayer adsorption
Description: Investigate volumetric storage density using carbon structures at various temperatures and/or pressures, which could enable multilayer adsorption especially with novel carbon structures.

g) Cycling effects

i. Determine durability and cycling effects on hydrogen storage/release.

ii. Verify purity capabilities and tolerance to contaminants.

2. Manufacturing Processes
Description: Investigate the benefits to operating performance and storage capacity using novel processes.
Goals: Low cost, High volume

a) Mechanical milling

b) Thin film processes

c) Pretreatment
Description: Could involve sonication, acid wash, and/or heat, other factors.

3. Novel Carbon-Related Materials
Goals: Volumetric Density, Reversibility

a) Functional composites
Description: Combine different materials, using 3-D layering, that each have distinct and suitable catalytic and thermodynamic properties.

b) Doped carbon

c) Graphite

d) Metallic systems

e) High-surface-area nanoporous materials

i. Metal-organic frameworks

ii. Aerogels

iii. Intercalation compounds

f) Hybrid carbon/non-carbon storage systems

g) Fullerenes (buckyballs)

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