Enhancing in the hydrogen storage by SWCNT/HKUST-1 composites: Effect of SWCNT amount

Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes into HKUST-1 ([Cu3-(btc)2]; btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) metal organic framework composite materials were synthesized by solvothermal method and characterized using different techniques such as XRD, BET,TG, SEM, and in situ Raman spectroscopy. It is important to mention that for the first time the thermal stability of the materials was determined by in situ Raman spectroscopy. Our results demonstrated that the incorporation of functionalized SWCNTs into HKUST-1 a slight increase in the thermal stability of MOF was observed. Too, a significant enhancement in the hydrogen adsorption capacity from 23.5% at 77 K and 1 bar of in the composite materials was observed. After of 5 cycles, hydrogen uptake is still above 2.98 wt% for 0.5SW/HKUST-1 sample. The hydrogen adsorption isotherms in the composite materials were completely reversible, reflecting only the physisorption of hydrogen molecule in the structure surface. Our results showed that the composite material with small amount of carbon nanotubes can be a promising candidate for the hydrogen storage.