Chemical bridges for enhancing hydrogen storage by spillover and methods for forming the same

1. A composition for hydrogen storage, comprising:

a transition metal supported on an activated carbon support, the transition metal supported on the activated carbon support serving as a source of hydrogen atoms via dissociation of hydrogen from the gas phase into the hydrogen atoms;

an activated carbon receptor adapted to receive hydrogen atoms that spill over from the source; and

a carbon bridge formed between the transition metal supported on the activated carbon and the activated carbon receptor, the carbon bridge formed from a precursor material via pyrolysis;

wherein the transition metal is chosen from platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, copper, iron, and combinations thereof.

2. The composition as defined in claim 1 wherein a chemical contact bridges the transition metal and the activated carbon support.

3. The composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the carbon bridge is formed between the activated carbon support of the source of hydrogen atoms and the activated carbon receptor.

4. The composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the carbon bridge precursor material is selected from sugars, polymers, surfactants, cellulosic resins, coal tar, and combinations thereof.

5. A method for forming a hydrogen storage composition, comprising:

forming a mixture of a source of hydrogen atoms and a receptor configured to receive spillover from the hydrogen source, wherein:

the source of hydrogen atoms is a transition metal supported on an activated carbon support;

the transition metal supported on the activated carbon support serves as the source via dissociation of hydrogen from the gas phase into the hydrogen atoms;

the transition metal is chosen from platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, copper, iron, and combinations thereof; and

the receptor is an activated carbon receptor;

adding a precursor material to the mixture; and

heating the mixture having the precursor material therein, thereby forming a carbon bridge between the source and the receptor.

6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the precursor material is a solid at room temperature, and wherein heating includes:

increasing the precursor material to a predetermined melt temperature, thereby melting the precursor material and filling interstices between the source and the receptor; and

increasing the predetermined melt temperature to form the carbon bridge.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein increasing the predetermined melt temperature subjects the precursor material to at least partial carbonization.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the predetermined melt temperature is greater than a melting temperature of the precursor material.

9. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the precursor material is a liquid at room temperature, and wherein heating includes increasing the mixture to a predetermined temperature, thereby subjecting the precursor material to at least partial carbonization.

10. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the precursor material is selected from sugars, polymers, surfactants, cellulosic resins, coal tar, and combinations thereof.

11. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein heating is accomplished via a programmed temperature change process.

12. A method for storing hydrogen, comprising:

forming a carbon bridge from a precursor material between a source of hydrogen atoms and a receptor configured to receive hydrogen from the source, wherein:

the source of hydrogen atoms is a transition metal supported on an activated carbon support;

the transition metal supported on the activated carbon support serves as the source via dissociation of hydrogen from the gas phase into the hydrogen atoms;

the transition metal is chosen from platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, copper, iron, and combinations thereof; and

the receptor is an activated carbon receptor; and

dissociating hydrogen atoms from within the source, whereby the carbon bridge substantially enhances hydrogen spillover, thereby enhancing storage capacity.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising desorbing adsorbed hydrogen by exposing the receptor, source, and bridge to depressurization.

14. The method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising desorbing adsorbed hydrogen by exposing the receptor, source, and bridge to a temperature of about 298 K in a vacuum for a predetermined time.

15. A method for improving contact between a hydrogen spillover source and a receptor, comprising:

forming a mixture of the source and the receptor, wherein:

the hydrogen spillover source is a transition metal supported on an activated carbon support;

the transition metal supported on the activated carbon support serves as the source via dissociation of hydrogen from the gas phase into hydrogen atoms;

the transition metal is chosen from platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, copper, iron, and combinations thereof; and

the receptor is an activated carbon receptor;

adding a precursor material to the mixture; and

heating the mixture having the precursor material therein, thereby forming a carbon bridge between the source and the receptor.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the precursor material is a solid at room temperature, and wherein heating includes:

increasing the precursor material to a predetermined melt temperature, thereby melting the precursor material and filling interstices between the source and the receptor; and

increasing the predetermined melt temperature to form the carbon bridge.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein increasing the predetermined melt temperature subjects the precursor material to at least partial carbonization.

18. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the predetermined melt temperature is greater than a melting temperature of the precursor material.

19. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the precursor material is a liquid at room temperature, and wherein heating includes increasing the mixture to a predetermined temperature, thereby subjecting the precursor material to at least partial carbonization.