In-situ copper and nickel incorporation in carbon aerogels for efficient hydrogen storage

Abstract

Transition metal-doped carbon aerogels are emerging as promising materials for hydrogen storage due to their adjustable porosity, enhanced chemical functionality, and high specific surface area. In this study, we have synthesized copper and nickel-doped carbon aerogels by in-situ doping, utilizing copper nitrate and nickel nitrate as dopants during the polymerization of resorcinol and formaldehyde using triethylamine to aid the polymerization. The synthesized pristine and chemically activated doped carbon aerogels exhibited specific surface areas of 452 m2/g and 1200 m2/g, respectively. They demonstrated hydrogen storage up to 4.93 wt% and 5.94 wt% under 22 atm pressure at liquid nitrogen temperature, respectively. The study also reveals that increasing specific surface area does not necessarily guarantee proportional increases in hydrogen uptake. Based on electron microscopy and XPS studies, it can be concluded that the balance between specific surface area, pore size distribution, and chemical functionality is critical for optimizing hydrogen storage. © 2025 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC