Effect of Cold Plasma Treatment of Carbon Nanostructures on the Hydrogen Sorption

Using X-ray diffraction and thermo-programmed desorption, the present study investigated the effect of treatment with pulsed high-frequency discharge in a hydrogen environment on the structure and sorption characteristics of the carbon synthetic nanoporous sorbent SCN (spherical carbonite saturated). Treatment with SCN by a pulsed gas discharge led to chemisorption of 0.4% hydrogen by weight, as well as 1.7 times greater physical sorption of hydrogen. We can assume this increase in sorption capacity is due to changes in the equivalent pore sizes that result from chemical interaction of the carbon atoms of SCN with hydrogen ionized during the discharge process.PACS: 61.43.Gt Powders; porous materials; 52.77.–j Plasma applications; 88.30.R– Hydrogen storage.