Microporous Carbon Material with Transition Metal Support for Hydrogen Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for synthesizing microporous carbon materials for hydrogen storage face challenges in achieving a high BET surface area and controlled pore diameters, leading to insufficient doping or supporting effects of transition metals, which impairs the material's hydrogen storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
A microporous carbon material with a three-dimensional long-range ordered structure and transition metal support, manufactured using a method involving chemical vapor deposition and transition metal salt solutions, to achieve a BET surface area of 3500 cm²/g or more and optimal hydrogen storage properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional carbonization methods are used to synthesize microporous carbon material, then the material can be produced with basic porous structure, but the BET surface area is limited to several hundreds m²/g and pore diameter control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an organic compound as an intermediary substance that serves dual purposes: it acts as a carbon source for forming the microporous carbon structure and as a pore-forming agent that determines the final pore diameter. By selecting organic compounds with specific molecular sizes and structures, the invention achieves precise control over pore dimensions while simultaneously achieving high BET surface area exceeding 3000 m²/g, resolving the contradiction between surface area enhancement and pore diameter control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention systematically varies parameters including the type of organic compound used, carbonization temperature, and carbonization atmosphere to optimize both BET surface area and pore diameter. By changing these parameters, the patent achieves a BET surface area of 3000-4000 m²/g while maintaining pore diameters within the 0.5-2 nm range, effectively resolving the technical contradiction between achieving high surface area and precise pore size control
2Quantity of substance
If transition metal doping is performed on conventional microporous carbon material, then hydrogen storage capacity can be enhanced, but the doping effect is insufficient due to limited surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by first synthesizing microporous carbon material with high BET surface area (3000-4000 m²/g) and controlled pore structure before introducing transition metals. This preliminary creation of an optimal support structure ensures that subsequent transition metal doping can achieve high dispersion and maximum doping effect, thereby significantly enhancing hydrogen storage capacity. The high surface area provides abundant anchoring sites for transition metals, resolving the contradiction between enhancing hydrogen storage capacity and having sufficient surface area for metal support
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining microporous carbon with transition metals (such as Pt, Pd, Ni, Co). The microporous carbon provides high surface area and controlled pore structure, while the transition metals provide catalytic activity for hydrogen absorption/desorption. This composite structure synergistically enhances hydrogen storage capacity beyond what either component could achieve alone, effectively resolving the contradiction between improving hydrogen storage capacity and having adequate surface area for metal support
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting material effectively adsorbs and desorbs hydrogen within a wide temperature range, enhancing hydrogen storage capacity and stability, while maintaining the material's pore functions and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a microporous carbon material... which adsorbs and desorbs hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
a microporous carbon material... which adsorbs and desorbs hydrogen
Implementation Method 3
manufacturing method involving chemical vapor deposition
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
The present invention provides a microporous carbon material capable of expressing functions that supported metal has while maintaining pore functions that the microporous carbon material inherently possesses. The microporous carbon material 5 includes: a three-dimensional long-range ordered structure within a range from 0.7 nm or more to 2 nm or less; and micropores 2a, wherein a transition metal 4 is supported on surfaces of the micropores 2a. The microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of and inside the micropores of a porous material containing transition metal, and obtaining a composite of the microporous carbon material containing the transition metal and the porous material by carbonizing the organic compound by a chemical vapor deposition method; and removing the porous material. Alternatively, the microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of a porous material and obtaining a microporous carbon material by a chemical vapor deposition method; and supporting the transition metal on a surface of the microporous carbon material by immersing and impregnating the microporous carbon material in a transition metal salt solution.