Hydrogen storage based on polymeric nanocomposites obtained in situ

• Grant number: 12/08040-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Antonio Pessan
• Grantee: Fabio Roberto Passador
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrogen is considered a clean and versatile energy vector that can be used for many applications, with water as the major product of combustion, and has a potential to be an alternative to fossil fuels. However, the challenge for the establishment of infrastructure for hydrogen technology to be used widely and safely is hydrogen storage. Several materials including carbon nanotubes, metal-organic frameworks, metal hydrides, alkali hydrides and graphite show promise as potential materials for hydrogen storage. The use of nano structure incorporated into polymers or nanoporous carbon structures can be an alternative for hydrogen storage. Materials from polymeric nanocomposites with lower density and temperature of desorption may contribute to the consolidation of the use of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy. The objective of this research project is the development of in situ polymeric nanocomposites with different ratios and types of nanoparticles. The method provides the sulfonation reactions of polyetherimide and during this process are added the nanoparticles: sodium alanate (NaALH4) doped with titanium dioxide, carbon nanotubes doped with NaAlH4 and zeolite doped with nanométrica powder aluminium; and the influence of the addition of nanoparticles on the morphology, mechanical and thermal properties, and storage capacity and desorption of hydrogen will be correlated. (AU)