The paper of Assistant Prof. Huaiyu Shao (Hydrogen Storage Research Division, I²CNER), Prof. Yasuyuki Takata (Lead Principal Investigator, Thermal Science and Engineering Research Division, I²CNER), Associate Professor Masamichi Kohno (Thermal Science and Engineering Research Division, I²CNER),  Associate Professor Shigenori Fujikawa (Principal Investigator, CO₂ Capture and Utilization Research Division, I²CNER), Dr. Sayoko Fujino (CO₂ Capture and Utilization Research Division, I²CNER), Assistant Professor Sean Bishop (Fuel Cells Research Division, I²CNER) and their collaborative research group was published in "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy" on March 18, 2014. This paper was contributed by researchers from four I2CNER divisions, as well as the best two universities in China, Beijing University and Tsinghua University. It resulted from I2CNER interdisciplinary research project led by Dr. Huaiyu Shao.

■ Outline

Mg-based hydrogen storage materials can be very promising candidates for stationary energy storage application due to the high energy density and low cost of Mg. Hydrogen storage kinetics and thermal conductivity are two important factors for the material development for this kind of application. Here we studied several types of Mg-based materials with different structure-micrometer scale Mg powders, Mg nanoparticles, single crystal Mg, nanocrystalline Mg₅₀Co₅₀ BCC alloy and Mg thin film samples. It seems the Mg materials with good kinetics usually are the ones with nanostructure and tend to show poor thermal conductivity due to electron/phonon scattering resulting from more interfaces and boundaries in nanomaterials. Based on this work, good crystallinity Mg phase incorporated in carbon nano framework could be one promising option for energy storage.

■ Paper

Title: Hydrogen storage and thermal conductivity properties of Mg-based materials with different structures

Authors: Huaiyu Shao, Weigang Ma, Masamichi Kohno, Yasuyuki Takata, Gongbiao Xin, Shigenori Fujikawa, Sayoko Fujino, Sean Bishop, Xingguo Li

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.02.063

Article first published online: March 18, 2014