Influence of Kubas-type interaction of B–Ni codoped graphdiyne with hydrogen molecules on desorption temperature and storage efficiency

Highlights

• B-Ni codoped 2D carbon allotrope, graphdiyne (GDY), was investigated as a promising hydrogen storage media.

• We observed that boron-doped GDY is thermally stable at 300 K, though, its synthesis requires an endothermic reaction.

• Ni doping drastically increased hydrogen adsorption energies.

• B–Ni codoping gave the hydrogen desorption temperature estimation of ∼400 K, however, the resulting hydrogen uptake (∼1.2 wt %) is lower than U.S. DOE ultimate target.

Abstract

We have investigated functionalized 2D carbon allotrope, graphdiyne (GDY), as a promising hydrogen storage media. Density functional theory with a range of vdW corrections was employed to study Ni decoration of pristine and boron-doped GDY and the interaction of resulting structures with molecular hydrogen. We showed that boron-doped GDY is thermally stable at 300 K, though, its synthesis requires an endothermic reaction. Also, boron doping enhances Ni binding with the graphdiyne by increasing the charge transfer from Ni to GDY. Ni doping drastically influenced hydrogen adsorption energies: they rise from ~70 meV per H₂ molecule on pristine GDY to a maximum of 1.29 eV per H₂ becoming too high in value for room temperature reversible applications. Boron doping improves the situations: in this case, after Ni decoration desorption temperature estimation is ~300–500 K. Overall, each Ni adatom on B-doped GDY can bind only one H₂ molecule within the needed energy range, which gives low hydrogen uptake (~1.2 wt%). However, doping with boron led to the decrease in the value of hydrogen adsorption energy and good desorption temperature estimations, therefore, codoping of metal atoms and boron could be an effective strategy for other transition metals.