Modification research on the hydrogen storage performance of bimetallic oxide Zn2Ti3O8 on MgH2

In this study, flake Zn2Ti3O8, TiO2 and rod ZnO catalysts were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal and calcination methods, and the catalytic performance of the three catalysts for MgH2 was compared. Notably, Zn2Ti3O8 had a significant synergistic enhancement effect on the dehydrogenation temperature and desorption kinetics of MgH2. The experimental results showed that the dehydrogenation of MgH2 + 12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 composite started at about 195 °C, which was about 150 °C lower than that of pure MgH2. Moreover, at 325 °C, MgH2 released only 3.06 wt% H2 in 20 min, whereas the MgH2 + 12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 composite released the same amount of hydrogen at 250 °C in 3 min. After complete dehydrogenation, the MgH2 + 12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 composite initiated hydrogen uptake at 40 °C and absorbed about 6.05 wt% of H2 in 60 min at 200 °C. The hydrogen uptake activation energy and dehydrogenation activation energy of the composites were reduced by 24.56 kJ/mol and 44.67 kJ/mol, respectively, when compared to the pure MgH2. Cycling experiments showed that after 20 cycles, the MgH2 + 12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 composite maintained good cycling stability and the hydrogen storage capacity was still more than 96 %. Therefore, the composite exhibits excellent catalytic and hydrogen storage properties, and has potential applications in improving the hydrogen release rate and reducing the activation energy. •In this study, a new material, Zn2Ti3O8, was designed and prepared as a catalyst.•MgH2+12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 exhibits lower hydrogen absorption/desorption temperatures and faster rates.•The composite material MgH2+12 wt% Zn2Ti3O8 has excellent cycling stability.