Effects of synthesis parameters on zeolite templated carbon for hydrogen storage application

• Carbonization is an effective method to prepare templated carbons.
• Carbonization temperature of 750 °C & time of 3 h gave highest area & pore volume.
• Stepwise-heating profile maximized BET and micropore area.
• Carbon of highest BET area of 1886 m2/g and micropore area of 1136 m2/g obtained.
• Hydrogen uptake capacity of 0.29 wt.% obtained at −100 °C and atmospheric pressure.

Templated carbon was synthesized using NH4Y-zeolite template and furfuryl alcohol as carbon precursor by carbonization method. The effects of synthesis conditions, such as carbonization temperature, dwelling time, heating ramp and flow rate of N2, on surface area and pore structure of templated carbons were investigated. The carbonization temperature was varied in range of 650–850 °C and dwelling time in range of 1–4 h. Physicochemical properties of zeolite and templated carbons were studied by TGA, surface area and pore analysis, XRD, SEM and FESEM techniques. The BET and micropore area increased with increasing dwelling time and were maximum at 3 h at all carbonization temperatures. At 3 h dwelling time, BET surface area and pore volume of templated carbons were observed to be highest at carbonization temperature of 750 °C while micropore area was slightly higher at 650 °C. The hydrogen storage capacity was measured by temperature programmed desorption method at atmospheric pressure and different temperatures (−100 °C and −50 °C). For carbons prepared by continuous heating, hydrogen storage was maximum (0.15 wt.%) at −100 °C and atmospheric pressure for carbon synthesized at 650 °C and 3 h dwelling time. The stepwise heating resulted in higher BET surface area (1886 m2/g) and micropore area (1136 m2/g) and increased hydrogen uptake of 0.29 wt.% at −100 °C was obtained for carbon synthesized at 750 °C with 3 h dwelling time. The storage capacity was observed to be higher for samples having higher amount of micropores and mesopores less than 6 nm.

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