H2 uptake and synthesis of the fluorinated Li-dispersed nickel oxide nanotubes

Aligned Li-dispersed nickel oxide nanotubes were prepared using LiNO3, Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template for potential applications in H2 storage. The nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nickel(II) oxide nanotubes obtained had a trigonal structure with a uniform length, 40–50 nm in wall thickness and 200 ± 10 nm in the outer diameter. The external surface of the nanotubes was modified by fluorination. The level of H2 adsorption was determined using the gravimetric method. The fluorinated Li-dispersed nickel oxide nanotubes showed a 0.06 wt% and 1.65 wt% increase in weight due to H2 adsorption under an equilibrium pressure of 47 atm at 298 K and 77 K, respectively.