Hydrogen uptake efficiency of mesoporous carbon nanofiber and its structural factors to determine the uptake efficiency

In this work, mesoporous carbon nanofibers (MCNF) were synthesized by using a template of mesoporous silicate nanofibers within anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film and furfuryl alcohol for the carbon source at the carbonization temperatures (600, 900, and 1200 °C). Due to the easy control nature of pore size and thickness of AAO film, the diameter and length of MCNF can easily be controlled. The MCNF pyrolyzed at 1200 °C shows the highest BET surface area. The surface area is discussed with the structural properties associated. Also, hydrogen uptake capacity of MCNF is measured to examine the nanofibers for the potential application as a hydrogen storage media. Among them, MCNF carbonized at 1200 °C shows 0.73 wt.% of the highest hydrogen uptake at 77 K and 0.1 MPa. Results of the study indicate that the capacity of the MCNF for hydrogen storage shall increase as the carbonization temperature increases. The structural property and the surface area of MCNFs depending on carbonization temperature were discussed with their hydrogen uptake efficiency.