Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Kinetics of the Adsorption and Desorption of Hydrogen in Carbon Microfibres

Cesar Mota, Mario Culebras, Andrés Cantarero, Antonio Madroñero, Clara Maria Gómez, Jose María Amo, Jose Ignacio Robla

Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
Materials Science Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

DOI: 10.4236/ampc.2013.32021                

Abstract

In this study, three types of carbon fibres were used, they were ex-polyacrylonitrile carbon fibres with high bulk modulus, ex-polyacrylonitrile fibres with high strength, and vapour grown carbon fibres. All the samples were subjected to a hydrogen adsorption process at room temperature in an over-pressured atmosphere of 25 bars. The adsorption process was monitored through electrical resistivity measurements. As conditioning of the fibres, a chemical activation by acid etching followed by γ-ray irradiation with ⁶⁰Co radioisotopes was performed. The surface energy was determined by means of the sessile drop test. Both conditioning treatments are supplementary; the chemical activation works on the outer surface and the γ-irradiation works in the bulk material as well. Apparently, the most significant parameter for hydrogen storage is the crystallite size. From this point of view, the most convenient materials are those with small grain size because hydrogen is accumulated mainly in the grain boundaries.

Keywords

Carbon Fiber; Gamma Irradiation; Hydrogen Adsorption; Electrical Resistivity; Raman Spectroscopy

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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