Enhancement of hydrogen storage performance in cost effective novel g–C3N4–MoS2–Ni(OH)2 ternary nanocomposite fabricated via hydrothermal method.

Energy from hydrogen has been looked upon with great favours to encounter the shortage of fossil fuels in energy generation. Safety issues and storage concerns of hydrogen has been a major drawback in this regard. Here, a novel material g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 is crafted to achieve promisingly sufficient storage capacity for hydrogen. Hydrothermal route is optimized in a best possible way to achieve flower like structure of MoS 2. It is then blended with fine sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and as synthesized g-C 3 N 4 to develop the promising nanocomposite g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2. Morphological investigation using TEM and SEM analyses revealed flower-like structure near fine sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and g-C 3 N 4. Fruitfully, the modified surface of the nanocomposite resulted in an enhanced hydrogen storage capability. The hydrogen sorption experiments were carried out at 150 °C for 15 and 30 min intervals under 10 bar hydrogen pressure, and the hydrogen desorption process was carried out from room temperature (RT) to 200 °C with a ramping rate of 15 °C min−1 in an argon medium with a flow rate of 100 mL min−1. During non-isothermal H 2 desorption, S150 composite exhibits better hydrogen storage capacity of 2.79 and 3.21 wt% under hydrogenation intervals of 15 and 30 min respectively. Furthermore, S150 desorbed 3.7 wt% H 2 in 20 min at isothermal desorption of 200 °C. A ternary structure of g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 comprising flower like morphology covered by thin sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and g-C 3 N 4 is successfully developed via hydrothermal route. The hydrogenation test carried over the material at 150 °C, 30 min, 10 bar hydrogen gas pressures resulted in release of 3.21 wt% amount of hydrogen at 200 °C with 15 °C min−1 ramping rate under argon medium with 100 mL min−1 gas flow for the above ternary nanocomposite. [Display omitted] • Novel-Flower-like g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 composites was developed by wet impregnation method. • Metal free ternary composites was achieved for high specific surface area. • First time we reporting better H 2 storage performance for g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 composites. • Best H 2 storage capacity of 3.21 wt% are observed under 30 min hydrogenation by S150 composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]