Issue 13, 2024

Surface modification of mesostructured cellular foam to enhance hydrogen storage in binary THF/H2 clathrate hydrate

Abstract

This study introduces solid-state tuning of a mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) to enhance hydrogen (H2) storage in clathrate hydrates. Grafting of promoter-like molecules (e.g., tetrahydrofuran) at the internal surface of the MCF resulted in a substantial improvement in the kinetics of formation of binary H2-THF clathrate hydrate. Identification of the confined hydrate as sII clathrate hydrate and enclathration of H2 in its small cages was performed using XRD and high-pressure 1H NMR spectroscopy respectively. Experimental findings show that modified MCF materials exhibit a ∼1.3 times higher H2 storage capacity as compared to non-modified MCF under the same conditions (7 MPa, 265 K, 100% pore volume saturation with a 5.56 mol% THF solution). The enhancement in H2 storage is attributed to the hydrophobicity originating from grafting organic molecules onto pristine MCF, thereby influencing water interactions and fostering an environment conducive to H2 enclathration. Gas uptake curves indicate an optimal tuning point for higher H2 storage, favoring a lower density of carbon per nm2. Furthermore, a direct correlation emerges between higher driving forces and increased H2 storage capacity, culminating at 0.52 wt% (46.77 mmoles of H2 per mole of H2O and 39.78% water-to-hydrate conversions) at 262 K for the modified MCF material with fewer carbons per nm2. Notably, the substantial H2 storage capacity achieved without energy-intensive processes underscores solid-state tuning's potential for H2 storage in the synthesized hydrates. This study evaluated two distinct kinetic models to describe hydrate growth in MCF. The multistage kinetic model showed better predictive capabilities for experimental data and maintained a low average absolute deviation. This research provides valuable insights into augmenting H2 storage capabilities and holds promising implications for future advancements.

Graphical abstract: Surface modification of mesostructured cellular foam to enhance hydrogen storage in binary THF/H2 clathrate hydrate

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 yan 2024
Accepted
12 apr 2024
First published
15 apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024,8, 2824-2838

Surface modification of mesostructured cellular foam to enhance hydrogen storage in binary THF/H2 clathrate hydrate

N. B. Kummamuru, R. Ciocarlan, M. Houlleberghs, J. Martens, E. Breynaert, S. W. Verbruggen, P. Cool and P. Perreault, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024, 8, 2824 DOI: 10.1039/D4SE00114A

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