Single-step preparation and hydrogenation of single walled carbon nanotubes-titanium dioxide composite

The composite material made up of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxide nanostructures have been investigated for hydrogen storage application. The present experimental work deals with the investigation of hydrogen storage in single walled carbon nanotubes-titanium dioxide (SWCNTs-TiO2) composite. The SWCNTs-TiO2 composite has been made by depositing the pellet containing the mixture of SWCNTs and TiO2 using electron beam (EB) evaporation technique in hydrogen ambient. The preparation and hydrogenation of the SWCNTs-TiO2 composite have been done in a single-step. The characterization results expose that the deposition of SWCNTs with TiO2 material is possible using EB evaporation technique without any significant structural decomposition of SWCNTs. The amount of hydrogen incorporated is found to be 3.2 wt.%, and it is attributed to both the synergetic action of SWCNTs-TiO2 nanostructures and the method of preparation. The stored hydrogen is found to be released completely in the temperature range of 120–215 °C.