«Development of scientific bases for hydrogen production, storage and use in autonomous energy supply systems»

The development of hydrogen storage and generation materials, based on magnesium hydride, and optimization of hydrogen supply systems for fuel cells

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Stage 1. “Synthesis of experimental samples of nanocomposites, based on magnesium hydride, and investigation of their properties”

The area of application of new materials

The composites, based on magnesium or its hydride are promising materials for storage and generation of hydrogen in hydrogen supply devices as part of autonomous energy systems, based on portable fuel cells. The devices for storage and transportation of energy from renewable sources are made of hydrogen source, coupled with fuel cell. Magnesium-based hydride composites as materials for hydrogen supply can be used in rechargeable hydrogen storage devices. The same composites with catalytic additives can be used in hydrolysis hydrogen generators as well. Hydrogen supply devices with fuel cells can be used as main power units for generation of electricity and heat in remote areas.

Short description and project tasks

The main task is synthesis of experimental samples of Mg-IMC nanocomposites with different content of IMC as a catalytic additive. Different inert additives (modifications of carbon) will be used in order to decrease the agglomeration of MgH₂ particles during sorption-desorption processes. Complex composites Mg-IMC-C will be produced from ukrainian raw materials and tested in hydrogen storage device (see Fig. 1-2). New materials (magnesium hydride with catalytic additives) will be synthesized for subsequent hydrogen generation via hydrolysis reactions (see Fig. 3-4). An influence of nanostructuring on the effectivity of hydrolysis reactions will be studied and pilot hydrogen generator based on magnesium hydride as a supply for fuel cells will be constructed. Different modes of operation of the reactor will be tested. The investigation of hydrogen sorption-desorption from gas phase will be of particular importance. Composite materials with capacity >5 wt.% hydrogen will have improved parameters of sorption-desorption and their cycling stability will be investigated.

Fig.1. TDS of hydride nanocomposite Mg–10 wt.% nano-ТіN at different heating rates	Fig.2. The equipment for mechanochemical synthesis of hydride composites and investigation of their hydrogen sorption properties.
Fig.3. Hydrogen evolution in course of hydrolysis	Fig.4. The experimental setup for the investigation of hydrogen generation by hydrolysis (PMI NASU)

Expected properties of new hydride composites

New materials (magnesium hydride + catalytic additive) for hydrolysis hydrogen generators will be synthesized and tested in portable energy supply systems hydrogen generator — fuel cell. Series of new catalytic additives will be investigated in orded to find the best compositions of hydrogen storage materials as well as hydrogen generating materials. The influence of nanostructuring on hydrogen generation via hydrolysis of magnesium hydride composites will be studied

Advantages

The advantage of proposed project is possibility of generation and storage of large amounts of hydrogen using inexpensive excess of electrical energy from renewable sources. Portable effective and environmentally clean process of energy production using hydrolysis reaction is proposed.

Stage of development

The equipment for mechanochemical synthesis was improved and the equipment for the investigation of hydrolysis reactions was constructed. New materials (magnesium hydride + catalytic additive) for hydrogen generation via hydrolysis were synthesized. These materials will be tested in portable energy supply systems hydrogen generator — fuel cell.

Intellectual property

Contact information

Institute- Executor: : Karpenko Physico-mechanical institute NAS of Ukraine

Project leader:

Tel. +38(032) 229-68-33

E-mail: ihor.zavaliy@gmail.com