Decoration of graphene sheets with Pd/Al2O3 hybrid particles for hydrogen storage applications

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.03.201

In this work, we developed a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of Al2O3 nanoparticle and low amounts of Pd that markedly enhances the hydrogen uptake of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The Pd/Al2O3 hybrid particles were prepared by ultrasound-assisted impregnation of PdCl2 in aqueous suspension of Al2O3 nanoparticles. Hybrid particles were immobilized onto the RGO support, giving Pd/Al2O3 RGO nanocomposites. It was shown that incorporation of 1 wt% heterogeneous catalyst (<0.3 wt% Pd) significantly increased the hydrogen storage capacity of RGO from 0.17 wt% to 0.31 wt%. This indicated a raise of hydrogen uptake by factor of 1.8 in RGO nanocomposite. The improving hydrogen storage capacity of RGO nanocomposites by change of Al2O3 particle size and Pd content was linked to activation of processes usually grouped as spillover.