A Vision of the Future: Exploring Advanced Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Materials and Their Applications
As an energy carrier, hydrogen offers numerous advantages, including high gravimetric energy density, abundance, and zero emissions. However, the effective storage and transportation of hydrogen pose significant challenges for its widespread use.
To address this issue, extensive research has been conducted to develop and investigate different types of hydrogen storage materials. Among them, magnesium hydride (MgH2) has emerged as a promising candidate due to its high capacity, reversibility, abundance, and cost-effectiveness.
However, the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of MgH2 have limited its practical applications. The enthalpy of hydrogen desorption is 74.7 kJ mol-1 H2, and the desorption energy barrier is around 160 kJ mol-1 H2. To overcome these limitations, various strategies, including alloying, catalyzing, and nano-structuring, have been proposed and applied.
Catalysts, in particular, have been instrumental in changing the local electronic configuration of Mg/MgH2 and reducing the energy barrier for H2 dissociation/recombination. On the other hand, nanostructured Mg-based materials offer shortened diffusion pathways and increased surface reaction areas, resulting in accelerated hydrogen absorption and desorption rates.
The concept of designing core-shell nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage materials aims to combine the strengths of catalyst introduction and nanostructuring. This approach allows for the construction and optimization of advanced Mg-based materials with core-shell nanostructures, which hold promise for both mobile and stationary applications.
A recent review by Professor Jianxin Zou and his team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University provides a comprehensive summary of research progress in the field of core-shell nanostructured magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials. The review focuses on preparation methods, microstructures, properties, and related mechanisms, aiming to elucidate design principles and future research trends for industrial applications.
Notably, core-shell nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage materials exhibit excellent hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics as well as long-term cycling performances. Moreover, their unique structure imparts distinct properties such as anti-air oxidation ability and rapid hydrolysis rate.
In light of these findings, Zou’s group envisions a bright future for the use of core-shell nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage materials. Green hydrogen, obtained through electrolysis using renewable energy sources, can be stored in solid Mg-based hydrogen storage tanks. These core-shell nanostructured materials enable hydrogen absorption and desorption at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption during storage and release.
The stored hydrogen can be utilized in various applications, such as fuel cells for electricity generation, small-scale portable backup power, and industrial usage. The recent unveiling of a tonnage Mg-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transpiration trailer (MH-100T) with multiple solid-state hydrogen storage tanks signifies a new era in solid-state hydrogen storage and transportation.
Looking ahead, further improvements can be made to core-shell nanostructured Mg-based materials to enhance their hydrogen sorption properties, including lower desorption temperatures, faster sorption speeds, and higher storage capacities. These advancements will contribute to broader applications in the hydrogen industry.
Mg-based hydrogen storage systems have garnered attention as potential hydrogen carriers, thanks to their high storage densities, cyclic performance, and abundance on Earth. The ongoing research on nanostructured hydrogen storage materials aims to reduce the hydrogen desorption temperature to be compatible with the exhaust heat of a fuel cell stack.
However, the challenge lies in simultaneously controlling kinetics, thermodynamics, and cyclic performance in a simple and efficient manner. Experimental and theoretical investigations have shed light on the relationship between core-shell structures and improved hydrogen sorption properties of Mg/MgH2.
Optimizing processing parameters and technical routes is crucial for synthesizing advanced core-shell nanostructured Mg/MgH2 nanoparticles with smaller sizes and superior catalytic shells. This optimization balances the benefits and costs to meet industrial application requirements.
Furthermore, the future development of different specific nanostructured hydrogen storage materials necessitates new design principles. These principles may include precise control of the catalytic effect at the atomic level, composition and structural optimization using material genome engineering methodology, and more.
“In this review, we aim to provide readers with the latest research and development on advanced Mg-based hydrogen storage materials and their future prospects in the field of hydrogen energy,” stated Zou.
In conclusion, exploring advanced magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials offers great potential for overcoming the challenges in hydrogen storage and transportation. Core-shell nanostructured Mg-based materials, with their remarkable properties and performance, pave the way for a sustainable and efficient hydrogen industry.
For more information, please refer to the research article “Core–Shell Nanostructured Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Materials: A Critical Review” published in Industrial Chemistry & Materials. DOI: 10.1039/D3IM00061C.
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