Hydrogen uptake of high-energy ball milled nickel-multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

•Room temperature hydrogen storage measurement.•Hydrogen uptake enhancement more than three times compared to pristine nanotubes.•Simple method of preparing nickel decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Hydrogen uptake of Ni decorated MWCNT composites performed using Server's volumetric equipment. The maximum reversible hydrogen storage capacity exhibited by nanocomposites, measured at 298 K and hydrogen pressure of 8 MPa, was found to be ∼2.27 wt.%, which is more than three times as compared to pristine MWCNTs. The enhancement of hydrogen storage capacity in coated samples as compared to pristine MWCNTs is due to the spillover of physisorbed hydrogen from metal nanoparticles to the MWCNTs. The hydrogen uptake by Ni/MWCNTs samples follows the Henry's rule, suggesting that there is no significant adsorbate–adsorbate interaction in the low-pressure region.

Graphical abstractDecoration of nickel nanoparticles on the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide