The effect of C 60 additive on magnesium hydride for hydrogen storage

A systematic survey of the catalytic effect of up to 10 wt% C 60 carbon buckyballs on the kinetics of hydrogen desorption and subsequent absorption of magnesium hydride has been made. It was found that there was an optimum amount of C 60 additive for the best desorption kinetics as well as an optimum time of ball-milling, improving the desorption kinetics over that of ball-milling alone. A comparison with the additive Nb 2 O 5 under the same conditions indicated that desorption kinetic enhancement was relatively minor. The subsequent absorption kinetics were always poorer than the un-catalysed samples.