The role of Al and Mg in the hydrogen storage of electrospun ZnO nanofibers

Pure and doped ZnO nanofibers with Al and Mg were successfully synthesized via an electrospinning method using a sol–gel containing Polyvinylpyrrolidone as a spinning aid and a zinc nitrate precursor. Calcination of the doped and undoped electrospun nanofibers was conducted at 500 °C in air, and the resultant structures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The diameter of the doped nanofibers decreased with increasing viscosity and conductivity, as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that Mg and Al are present in ZnO nanofibers. The pressure composition isotherm (PCI) demonstrated that the capacity of hydrogen storage in pure zinc oxide nanofibers is a factor of two greater than that of zinc oxide nanoparticles. However, Al-doped ZnO nanofibers have the highest capacity of hydrogen storage (2.81 wt%) at room temperature.

Graphical abstractSchematic image of electrospinning instrument, Zinc Oxide nanofibers.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Synthesize zinc oxide nanofibers via electrospinning by reducing the cost. ► Doping Al and Mg nanoparticles through one-step procedure during spinning. ► Measuring hydrogen absorption capacity. ► Al–ZnO nanofibers show higher absorption among the various ZnO nanostructures.