Determination of the Isosteric Heat of Adsorption of Hydrogen on the Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The isosteric heat of adsorption was used to study the interaction between hydrogen molecules and the Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). Characterizations of the MWCNTs sample were carried out based on the N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K and the images from TEM and HRTEM. Step by step method was used to volumetrically measure hydrogen adsorption isotherms at equilibrium temperature-pressures from 123-310 K and 0-12.3 MPa. Isosteric heats of adsorption at seven excess adsorption amounts and that at zero surface loading were respectively determined by the slopes of the adsorption isosteres and the plot of the temperature dependence of the Henry’s constants. Results show that the limit of the isosteric heat of adsorption at zero surface loading is about and the mean under the experimental condition is about . The values are in the same grade as those of hydrogen on the activated coconut charcoal but smaller than those of hydrogen on the graphitized carbon black P33, the activated carbon AX-21 and the Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs). Conclusions are drawn that relatively lower adsorption amounts and the isosteric heat of hydrogen adsorption on the MWCNTs could be ascribed to the small specific surface area and the large mesopores.