Carbon-based foam nanocomposite hydrogen storage material

Abstract

A carbon-based foam composite including a carbon-based foam and a solid state hydrogen storage material, methods for making the carbon-based foam composite, and methods for using the carbon-based foam composite. Representative carbon-based foams include cryogels, aerogels, and xerogels. Representative solid state hydrogen storage materials include metal hydrides and chemical hydrides.

1 . A composite, comprising a sulfur-functionalized carbon-based foam and a solid state hydrogen storage material. 
     
     
         2 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based foam is a cryogel. 
     
     
         3 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the solid state hydrogen storage material comprises a metal hydride. 
     
     
         4 . The composite of  claim 3 , wherein the metal hydride is magnesium hydride. 
     
     
         5 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the solid state hydrogen storage material comprises a chemical hydride. 
     
     
         6 . The composite of  claim 5 , wherein the chemical hydride is ammonia borane. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The composite of  claim 1  further comprising a transition metal catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the carbon-based foam ranges from 20 m 2 /g to 3000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         11 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The composite of  claim 10 , wherein the surface area of the carbon-based foam ranges from 1500 m 2 /g to 2000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         27 . The composite of  claim 10 , wherein the surface area of the carbon-based foam ranges from 2400 m 2 /g to 2600 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         28 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based foam is an aerogel. 
     
     
         29 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based foam is a xerogel. 
     
     
         30 . The composite of  claim 3 , wherein the metal hydride is Mg 2 FeH 6 , Na 3 AlH 6 , NaAlH 4 , MnNi 5 H 6 , TiCr 1.8 H 1.7 , Mg 2 NiH 4 , PdH 0.6 , CaNi 5 H 5 , TiFeH, MgH 2 , LaNi 55 Al 1.5 H 5  or LaNi 4 AlH 5 . 
     
     
         31 . The composite of  claim 5 , wherein the chemical hydride is LiAlH 4 , LiBH 4 , NaAlH 4  or NaBH 4 . 
     
     
         32 . The composite of  claim 8 , wherein the transition metal catalyst is Ni, Ce or Zr. 
     
     
         33 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based foam comprises a total pore volume of from 1.0 to 1.5 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
         34 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based foam comprises a density of from 0.20 to 1.0 g/cm 3 , a surface area of from 1500 to 2000 m 2 /g and a total pore volume of from 1.0 to 1.5 cm 3 /g.