Electrocatalytic System for the Simultaneous Hydrogen Production and Storage from Methanol

This paper reports a groundbreaking approach for simultaneous hydrogen production and storage that entails catalysis, electrochemistry, surface science, and materials synthesis. A novel electrocatalytic system is developed based on nickel nanocolumnar films of controlled microstructure prepared on K-beta Al2O3 solid electrolyte supports by oblique angle physical vapor deposition. The outstanding characteristics of this system are a hydrogen storage capacity of up to 19 g of H-2 (100 g of Ni)(-1), which is unparalleled in the literature and the possibility of controlling its release electrochemically, under fixed mild conditions (280 degrees C and normal pressure). H-2 is produced in situ by methanol steam reforming on the Ni catalyst, and it spills over onto graphene oxide aggregates formed during the catalytic process, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The proposed storage mechanism considers a synergetic contribution of both Ni and graphene oxide, promoted by K+ ions, in enhancing the hydrogen storage capacity of the system.