Lithium- or potassium-doped carbon nanotubes can absorb approximately 20 or approximately 14 weight percent of hydrogen at moderate (200 degrees to 400 degrees C) or room temperatures, respectively, under ambient pressure. These values are greater than those of metal hydride and cryoadsorption systems. The hydrogen stored in the lithium- or potassium-doped carbon nanotubes can be released at higher temperatures, and the sorption-desorption cycle can be repeated with little decrease in the sorption capacity. The high hydrogen-uptake capacity of these systems may be derived from the special open-edged, layered structure of the carbon nanotubes made from methane, as well as the catalytic effect of alkali metals.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/285/5424/91.full.pdf

High H2 uptake by alkali-doped carbon nanotubes under ambient pressure and moderate temperatures

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are one of the most promising technologies for future efficient conversion of the chemical energy stored in fuels to electrical energy. One of the primary advantages of SOFCs is the potential to operate with a wide variety of fuels. While H2 is the fuel of choice for most fuel cells, operation with fossil-derived and bio-derived hydrocarbon fuels would bypass the costly requirement of a new H2 infrastructure, and accelerate adoption of fuel cell technology. This is feasible as SOFCs transport oxygen anions from the air electrode (cathode) to the fuel electrode (anode). The primary barrier to the realization of fuel flexible SOFCs is the anode material set. Traditional SOFC anodes are based on Ni composites. While these are very efficient for H2 and CO fuels, Ni catalyzes graphite formation from dry hydrocarbons, leading to rapid degradation of cell performance and possible mechanical failure. This motivates the development of new anode materials and composites. The principle requirements of an anode are oxygen anion conductivity, electronic conductivity, and electrocatalytic activity toward the desired reaction. This entry reviews the primary issues in direct hydrocarbon anode development and discusses the new materials and composites that have been developed to meet this challenge.

Direct hydrocarbon solid oxide fuel cells.

Catalyst deactivation is usually inevitable, although the rate at which it occurs varies greatly. This article discusses the causes of deactivation and the influence on reaction rate. Methods for minimising catalyst deactivation, by tailoring catalyst properties and/or process operations, are presented, as well as reactor configurations suitable for the regeneration of deactivated catalysts. Alkane dehydrogenation is used as an example to demonstrate the variety of engineering solutions possible.

Catalyst deactivation: is it predictable?: What to do?

The catalyst in the CCVD of carbon nanotubes—a review

One dimensional nanostructured materials

Growth of carbon nanotubes by catalytic decomposition of CH4 or CO on a NiMgO catalyst

Forty years of applied catalysis research at Xiamen University and its interaction with fundamental catalysis research

Several promoted W/HZSM-5(or MCM-22)-based catalysts for DHAM reaction were developed.Over the W-Zn-Ga(or Mo-Co)/MCM-22 catalyst,70% selectivity of benzene (SBen) at 14∼17% conversion of methane (XCH4) could be achieved at 1073 K. XPS and NH3-TPD measurements demonstrated that heavy deposition of carbon was the main reason leading to deactivation of the catalyst. Reoxidation by air can regenerate the deactivated W-based catalyst effectively.

Dehydro-aromatization of CH4 over W-Mn(or Zn, Ga, Mo, Co)/HZSM-5(or MCM-22) catalysts*

Ag-modified La 0.6 Sr 0.4 MnO 3 -based catalysts with the perovskite structure were prepared, and their activity for methanol complete oxidation was evaluated. The results showed that over a 6%Ag-modified 20% La 0.6 Sr 0.4 MnO 3 /γ-Al 2 o 3 catalyst, the T 50 and T 95 were as low as 395 and 413 K, respectively, and even at so low reaction temperature, the contents of the reaction intermediates HCHO and CO in the exit-gas were both under the detection limits. The origin of promoter action by Ag was discussed together with the results of spectroscopic characterization of the catalysts.

H.-B. Zhang

Papers

Growth of carbon nanotubes by catalytic decomposition of CH4 or CO on a NiMgO catalyst

Forty years of applied catalysis research at Xiamen University and its interaction with fundamental catalysis research

Dehydro-aromatization of CH4 over W-Mn(or Zn, Ga, Mo, Co)/HZSM-5(or MCM-22) catalysts*

Ag/La0.6Sr0.4MnO3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for complete oxidation of methanol at low concentration

Synergistic Effect of Co–Ni Bimetal on Plasma Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis