Hydrogen storage in carbon derived from solid endosperm of coconut

Abstract: Carbons are being widely investigated as hydrogen storage material owing to their light weight, fast hydrogen adsorption kinetics and cost effectiveness. However, these materials suffer from low hydrogen storage capacity, particularly at room temperature. The aim of the present study is to develop carbon-based material from natural bio-precursor which shows at least moderate hydrogen storage at room temperature. For this purpose, hydrogenation characteristics of carbon derived from solid endosperm of coconut is studied. Solid endosperm and its carbonized version have a native grown distribution of light elements like K (from KCl), Na, Mg, etc. The hydrogen storage measurements reveal that the as synthesized materials have good hydrogen adsorption and desorption capacity with fast kinetics. The synthesized material adsorbs 2.30 wt. % at room temperature and 8.00 wt.% at liquid nitrogen temperature under 70 atm pressure. The present work is likely to initiate research on native light metal bearing carbon derived from natural precursors.