Exceptional catalytic effect of novel rGO-supported Ni-Nb nanocomposite on the hydrogen storage properties of MgH_(2)

The design of an excellent active catalyst to improve the sluggish kinetic and thermodynamic properties of magnesium hydride(MgH_(2))remains a great challenge to achieve its practical application.In this study,a novel Ni-Nb/rGO nanocomposite catalyst was successfully prepared by one-spot hydrothermal and sub-sequent calcination methods.The novel Ni-Nb/rGO nanocomposite exhibits an exceptional catalytic effect on improving MgH_(2) sorption properties.Specifically,the onset desorption temperature of MgH_(2)+10 wt%Ni-Nb/rGO composite is reduced to 198℃,much lower than that of undoped MgH_(2)(330℃).In-terestingly,the composite can release 5.0,5.9,and 6.0 wt%H_(2) within 10 min at 245,260,and 275℃,respectively.Furthermore,the dehydrogenated MgH_(2)+10 wt%Ni-Nb/rGO composite starts to absorb hydrogen even at room temperature with approximate 2.75 wt%H_(2) uptake at 75℃under 3 MPa H_(2) pressure within 30 min and exhibits excellent stability by maintaining 6.0 wt%hydrogen content after 20 cycles at 300℃.Chou’s model suggests that the de/hydrogenation kinetics of Ni-Nb/rGO-modified MgH_(2) switches from surface penetration model to diffusion model at lower temperatures.Additionally,the ac-tivation energies(E a)for the de/hydrogenation of MgH_(2)+10 wt%Ni-Nb/rGO are reduced to 57.8 kJ/mol and 33.9 kJ/mol,which are significantly lower than those of undoped MgH_(2).The work demonstrates that the addition of a novel ternary Ni-Nb/rGO catalyst is an effective strategy to not only boost the sorption kinetics of MgH_(2) but also maintain its cycling property.