On Physics of Intercalation of Molecular Hydrogen Nanophase Into Graphene Surface Nanoblisters, Relevance For Solving The Hydrogen Storage Problem

Abstract

Herein, our modified results of thermodynamic analysis of some theoretical and experimental data on “reversible” hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of some graphenelayer- nanostructures are presented. In the framework of the formal kinetics approximation of the first order rate reaction, some thermodynamic quantities for the reaction of hydrogen sorption (the reaction rate constant, the reaction activation energy, the per-exponential factor of the reaction rate constant) have been determined. Some models and characteristics of hydrogen chemisorption on graphite (on the basal and edge planes) have been used for interpretation of the obtained quantities, with the aim of revealing the atomic mechanisms of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of different graphene-layer-systems. The cases of both a non-diffusion rate limiting kinetics, and a diffusion rate limiting kinetics are considered.On the basis of using the obtained analytical results of an empirical character (an indirect experiment), the physics of intercalation of molecular hydrogen nanophase of a high density into carbon-based nanostructures is considered. It is relevant for developing of a key breakthrough nanotechnology of the hydrogen onboard efficient and compact storage in fuel-cell-powered vehicles – the very current, but long-term (from about 1995 year) problem. A constructive critical discussion on our results and/or International co-operation seems as a real way of a joint breakthrough solving of the hydrogen storage problem.