Hydrogen adsorption/desorption behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with different diameters Original Research Article

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with different mean outer diameters in the range of 13–53 nm, synthesized by the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons using a floating catalyst method, were purified and pretreated with the same procedure for volumetric hydrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. It was found that the hydrogen storage capacity of the purified and pretreated MWNTs was proportional to their diameter, and that hydrogen in all types of MWNTs measured could not be completely desorbed at room temperature and ambient pressure. A possible mechanism for the above behavior was proposed based on the results of cryogenic nitrogen adsorption analysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations. It was considered that small “carbon islands” might be the main hydrogen adsorption site in MWNTs. The effects of metal catalyst as well as an etched cavity on the surface of MWNTs on the hydrogen adsorption/desorption of MWNTs were also discussed.