Reconnoitring the nature of interaction and effect of electric field on Pd/Pt/Ni decorated 5-8-5/55–77 defected graphene sheet for hydrogen storage

Abstract There is plenty of graphene based Hydrogen storage technologies and studies still few questions like ‘what kind of interaction present between Metal-Metal, Metal-Graphene, Metal-Hydrogen and Graphene-Metal and a possible way of controlling it to enhance H2 adsorption’ are not revealed properly. Similarly, the chosen metal atoms Pd, Pt and Ni are widely reported as a promising catalyst yet there is no conclusive evidence to show the best among three atoms. Thus, in this present work 5-8-5 and 55–77 defected graphene is decorated with the Pd, Pt and Ni metal atoms to adsorb Hydrogen molecules. The obtained results have shown that the better adsorption of H2 molecule depends on Metal-Metal and Metal-Graphene interaction. Similarly, the adhesive force between Pt and 5-8-5/55–77 sheets are slightly higher than the Pd and Ni atoms. Pd–Pd (−0.47 eV) and Pt–Pt (−1.99 eV) interaction values on the surface of 5-8-5 sheets are slightly lesser in magnitude than the Pd–C (−1.14 eV, −1.19 eV) and Pt–C (−2.42 eV, −2.55 eV) interactions. The topological analysis results exhibit the partially covalent nature of interaction and it confirms that the adhesive force between Metal-Graphene is higher than the cohesive force between Metal-Metal on 5-8-5 and 55–77 sheets. The electrophilicity results of Pd, Pt and Ni decorated sheets show that the two Pt decorated 5-8-5 sheet has higher electrophilicity value of 16.782 eV which is considerably higher than other sheets and this particular 5-8-5-Pt2 system has higher H2 adsorption energy value of −1.696 eV. The overall pattern of H2 adsorption on chosen three metals are Pt > Ni > Pd and our results show that both strong Metal-Metal and Metal-Graphene interactions lead to poor adsorption activity. The metals are strongly polarizing the H2 molecules which lead to good adsorption. Further, the results confirm that the π orbitals of Metal and Graphene play a major role in the adsorption of excessive H2 molecules. In order to enhance and control the H2 adsorption energy, a positive electric field is applied to the system. This applied electric field enhances the polarization which leads to H–H bond elongation and strong adsorption. From the obtained results, it is conclusive that the 5-8-5-Pt system has shown good response for the supplied electric field with the maximum adsorption energy value of −5.23 eV. Comparatively, the 5-8-5 systems are responding well for the applied electric field by increasing the adsorption energy than 55–77 systems.