Catalytically Enhanced Hydrogen Sorption in Mg-MgH(2) by Coupling Vanadium-Based Catalyst and Carbon Nanotubes

Mg (MgH(2))-based composites, using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and pre-synthesized vanadium-based complex (VCat) as the catalysts, were prepared by high-energy ball milling technique. The synergistic effect of coupling CNTs and VCat in MgH(2) was observed for an ultra-fast absorption rate of 6.50 wt. % of hydrogen per minute and 6.50 wt. % of hydrogen release in 10 min at 200 °C and 300 °C, respectively. The temperature programmed desorption (TPD) results reveal that coupling VCat and CNTs reduces both peak and onset temperatures by more than 60 °C and 114 °C, respectively. In addition, the presence of both VCat and CNTs reduces the enthalpy and entropy of desorption of about 7 kJ/mol H(2) and 11 J/mol H(2)·K, respectively, as compared to those of the commercial MgH(2), which ascribe to the decrease of desorption temperature. From the study of the effect of CNTs milling time, it is shown that partially destroyed CNTs (shorter milling time) are better to enhance the hydrogen sorption performance.