Combined effects of ternary oxides (Mg-Cu-O) and jute stick derived activated carbon for hydrogen storage in MgH2

Abstract

The extensive and rising utilization of fossil fuels has had a substantial effect on irreversible global climate change. Therefore, it is imperative to increase the use of alternative energy sources to address this severe issue. Hydrogen is a highly promising energy source that can be stored via a variety of approaches. The current research enhances the H2 storage capacities of MgH2 by incorporating jute stick-derived activated carbon and a ternary oxide (Mg-Cu-O). Different composite nanomaterial samples were synthesized by ball milling and characterized using XRD, TGA, DTA, SEM, EDX, and FTIR. It was observed that both the ternary oxide and activated carbon exhibit a notable effect on H2 absorption and desorption processes. The inclusion of activated carbon increases the surface area, which contributes significantly to the increased adsorption capacity of the samples. On the other hand, the presence of MgCuO2 enhances the H2 desorption rate at lower temperatures. Therefore, the synergistic effects of jute stick-based activated carbon and MgCuO2 can provide highly robust H2 storage materials for alternative energy applications.