Nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage
The nanocomposite system for hydrogen storage is a composite of MgH 2 powder with ZrNi 5 powder and a combination of Nb 2 O 5 , TiC and VC. Preferably, the MgH 2 is in nanocrystalline form and the ZrNi 5 is significantly in a Friauf-Laves phase. The nanocomposite system is formed by combining the MgH 2 powder with the ZrNi 5 , Nb 2 O 5 , TiC and VC, preferably in amounts of 4 wt. % ZrNi 5 +1 wt. % Nb 2 O 5 +0.5 wt. % TiC+0.5 wt. % VC, to form a mixture, and then performing reactive ball milling on the mixture. Preferably, the reactive ball milling is performed for a period of 50 hours.
1. A nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage, comprising a nanocrystalline powder mixture of magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ) doped with a catalyst for improving hydrogenation and dehydrogenation properties of the MgH 2 , the catalyst including ZrNi 5 , Nb 2 O 5 , titanium carbide (TiC) and vanadium carbide (VC).
2. The nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystalline powder mixture comprises:
4 wt % ZrNi 5 ;
1 wt % Nb 2 O 5 ;
0.5 wt % TiC;
0.5 wt % VC;
the balance being MgH 2 .
3. The nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage as recited in claim 1 , wherein the magnesium hydride and the catalyst are mixed mechanically by reactive ball milling to form the nanocrystalline powder.
4. The nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage as recited in claim 1 , wherein the MgH 2 comprises nanocrystalline β-MgH 2 powder.
5. The nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ZrNi 5 powder comprises ZrNi 5 in Friauf-Laves phase crystalline structure.
6. The nanocomposite system for solid hydrogen storage as recited in claim 1 , wherein nanocrystalline powder mixture have a particle size between 5-12 nm.