Functionalized and metal-doped biomass-derived activated carbons for energy storage application

- Biomass-derived carbon has been prepared for hydrogen storage purpose.
- Oxygen functional groups suppressed the H2 uptake capacity of carbons.
- Pd and Pt-doped carbons were synthesized via wet impregnation method.
- Hydrogen spillover mechanism was evidenced at room temperature.
- Catalysis preparation method is a parameter that should be optimized.

The development of a viable hydrogen storage system is one of the key challenges which must be solved prior to the establishment of a hydrogen economy. One of the envisaged options to store hydrogen is adsorption on high surface area porous materials such as activated carbons (ACs). The aim of the present study is to develop a low cost hydrogen storage material and to improve its uptake capacity at room temperature. First, an activated carbon has been prepared from olive pomace through chemical activation procedure. Then, the carbon surface has been decorated with oxygen functional groups and with metal nanoparticles. A careful textural characterizations show that, in contrast to other gases, oxygenated groups hindered H2 access to active adsorption sites. Hence acid activation should be avoided for hydrogen adsorbent preparation. While, the insertion of metal nanoparticles improve the H2 adsorption performance of AC via spillover mechanism at room temperature, unless the metal content and the catalyst preparation method were optimized.