Abstract
Hydrogen storage by adsorption offers operational benefits over energy intensive compression techniques. Incorporating physisorption materials in compression stores could improve hydrogen capacities, reducing the volume or pressure needed for storage vessels. However, such materials are often presented as fine powders and development efforts to date have predominantly focused on improving hydrogen uptake alone. Without due attention to industry-relevant attributes, such as handling, processability, and mechanical properties it is unlikely that these materials will find commercial application. In the paper, the desirable mechanical properties of hydrogen-adsorbent PIM-1 are exploited to yield a series of composite monoliths doped with a high surface area activated carbon, intended to act as pressure vessel inserts. Freeze casting techniques were successfully adapted for use with chloroform, facilitating the production of coherent and controlled three-dimensional geometries. This included the use of an innovative elastomeric mould made by additive manufacture to allow facile adoption, with the ability to vary multiple forming factors in the future. The composite monolith formed exhibited a stiffness of 0.26 GPa, a compressive strength of 6.7 MPa, and an increased BET surface area of 847 m2 g−1 compared to PIM-1 powders, signifying the first steps towards producing hydrogen adsorbents in truly useful monolithic forms.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 8934-8946 |
Journal | Materials Advances |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 24 |
Early online date | 18 Oct 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/L016354/1. Gratitude is extended to Dr Philip J. Fletcher for training in SEM (MC, University of Bath). Also to Dr John Lowe, Dr Rémi Castaing and Dr Martin Levere as NMR, BET and GPC instrument specialists at the materials and chemical characterisation facility, respectively. Special thanks to Clare Ball (Senior Technician in structures and materials testing at the University of Bath) for preparation and training in compression testing as well as collection of XRCT data. Also to Dr James Roscow (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath) for providing equipment and advice on freeze casting. 2
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/L016354/1. Gratitude is extended to Dr Philip J. Fletcher for training in SEM (MC2, University of Bath). Also to Dr John Lowe, Dr Rémi Castaing and Dr Martin Levere as NMR, BET and GPC instrument specialists at the materials and chemical characterisation facility, respectively. Special thanks to Clare Ball (Senior Technician in structures and materials testing at the University of Bath) for preparation and training in compression testing as well as collection of XRCT data. Also to Dr James Roscow (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath) for providing equipment and advice on freeze casting.