Effects of Ti-based catalysts and synergistic effect of SWCNTs-TiF3 on hydrogen uptake and release from MgH2

The present investigations are focused on the effect of different Ti-based catalysts (Ti, TiO2, TiCl3 and TiF3) on de/re-hydrogenation characteristics of nanocrystalline MgH2. Desorption temperature of milled MgH2 lowers from 380 to 350, 340, 310 and 260 °C with the addition of Ti, TiO2, TiCl3 and TiF3 respectively. The rehydrogenation characteristics are also improved through the deployment of Ti-based catalysts. Among all Ti based additives, TiF3 is found to be the most effective catalyst for hydrogen sorption from nano MgH2. The better catalytic effect of TiF3 over other Ti-based catalyst can be explained on the basis of temperature programmed reduction (TPR) studies. TPR experiments performed for different Ti additives, reveals that there is no oxidation/reduction reaction below 400 °C except for TiF3. The TPR profile of TiF3 shows some oxidation/reduction reaction exhibits at 200 °C. In order to further improve the sorption characteristics and cyclability of TiF3 catalyzed nano MgH2, we have investigated the effect of SWCNTs in MgH2+TiF3 sample. De/rehydrogenation characteristics reveal the synergistic effect of SWCNTs and TiF3 in MgH2+TiF3 sample. The details of the improvement in sorption behavior of MgH2–TiF3 in presence of SWCNTs are described and discussed.