Electrocatalytic system for the simultaneous hydrogen production and storage from methanol

This paper reports a groundbreaking approach for the 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-βAl2O3 solid electrolyte supports by oblique angle physical vapor deposition. Outstanding characteristics of this system are a hydrogen storage capacity of up to 19 g H2 x 100 g Ni-1, which is unparalleled in literature, and the possibility of controlling its release electrochemically, under fixed mild conditions (280 ºC and normal pressure). H2 is in-situ produced 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 systemPeer reviewe