High density hydrogen storage in nanocavities: Role of the electrostatic interaction

High pressure H2 adsorption isotherms at N2 liquid temperature were recorded for the series of cubic nitroprussides, Ni1−xCox[Fe(CN)5NO] with x = 0, 0.5, 0.7, 1. The obtained data were interpreted according to the effective polarizing power for the metal found at the surface of the cavity. The cavity volume where the hydrogen molecules are accumulated was estimated from the amount of water molecules that are occupying that available space in the as-synthesized solids considering a water density of 1 g/cm3. The calculated cavity volume was then used to obtain the density of H2 storage in the cavity. For the Ni-containing material the highest storage density was obtained, in a cavity volume of 448.5 Å3 up to 10.4 hydrogen molecules are accumulated, for a local density of 77.6 g/L, above the density value corresponding to liquid hydrogen (71 g/L). Such high value of local density was interpreted as related to the electrostatic contribution to the adsorption potential for the hydrogen molecule within the cavity.

Research highlights
► High density hydrogen storage.
► Hydrogen adsorption forces.
► Hydrogen storage in nanocavities.
► Hydrogen storage in nanoporous solids.