Preparation and Catalytic Activity of a Novel Nanocrystalline ZrO2 @C Composite for Hydrogen Storage in NaAlH4.

Sodium alanate (NaAlH4 ) has attracted intense interest as a prototypical high-density hydrogen-storage material. However, poor reversibility and slow kinetics limit its practical applications. Herein, a nanocrystalline ZrO2 @C catalyst was synthesized by using Uio-66(Zr) as a precursor and furfuryl alcohol (FA) as a carbon source. The as-synthesized ZrO2 @C exhibits good catalytic activity for the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of NaAlH4 . The NaAlH4 -7 wt % ZrO2 @C sample released hydrogen starting from 126 °C and reabsorbed it starting from 54 °C, and these temperatures are lower by 71 and 36 °C, respectively, relative to pristine NaAlH4 . At 160 °C, approximately 5.0 wt % of hydrogen was released from the NaAlH4 -7 wt % ZrO2 @C sample within 250 min, and the dehydrogenation product reabsorbed approximately 4.9 wt % within 35 min at 140 °C and 100 bar of hydrogen. The catalytic function of the Zr-based active species is believed to contribute to the significantly reduced operating temperatures and enhanced kinetics.