Electrochemical Storage of Hydrogen in Carbon Single Wall Nanotubes

Abstract

One still not satisfactory solved problem for the use of hydrogen as clean fuel is the safe and efficient storage of hydrogen. Currently cryo tanks, gas cylinders or metal hydrides are used. Important parameters are weight and volume density, cost and safety. Recent publications claimed that large amounts of hydrogen could be stored reversibly in carbon nanotubes from the gas phase. Similar to a gas phase experiment where the storage material absorbs hydrogen by increasing the pressure one can also do this electrochemically. We report that carbon nanotubes can be charged reversibly with amounts of hydrogen exceeding metal hydrides. Samples with different degrees of purity and different production methods were used and are compared.