Effects of Ni and Co-decorated MWCNTs addition on the dehydrogenation behavior and stability of LiAlH₄

A complex catalyst consisting of metal particles and multi walled carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) was developed in an attempt to reduce the dehydrogenation temperature of LiAlH₄. By chemical reduction method, Ni and Co particles can be decorated on MWCNTs. The dehydrogenation behavior of LiAlH₄ admixed with various amount of Ni, Co-decorated MWCNTs was investigated by using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The TGA and in-situ XRD results shows that both Ni and Co-decorated MWCNTs can reduce the dehydrogenation temperature of LiAlH₄. The results also reveal that Ni-decorated MWCNTs is more effective in catalyzing the dehydrogenation reaction of LiAlH₄, even can lead to room temperature hydrogen desorption.