Nontrivial Tuning of the Hydrogen-Binding Energy to Fullerenes with Endohedral Metal Dopants

Yufeng Zhao, Michael J. Heben, Anne C. Dillon, Lin J. Simpson, Jeff L. Blackburn, Harry C. Dorn, Shengbai B. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus Citations

Abstract

We report a first-principle study of the tunable hydrogenation of endohedral metallofullerenes M@C60 and M2@C60, where M = Li, Be, Mg, Ca, Al, and Sc. The interaction between the encapsulated metal atoms and the C60cage leads to a tuning of the hydrogen binding in a desired manner as the hydrogenation proceeds. At lower H densities, when H atoms are too strongly bound to pure C60, the endohedral dopants weaken the binding. The dopants also enhance the hydrogen-binding energy at higher coverages and enable the degree of hydrogenation to be substantially increased relative to that available with empty-cage C60. Overall, the encapsulated metals increase the capacity and improve the energy efficiency for hydrogen storage. We identify materials capable of storing 6.1 wt % hydrogen and elucidate a subtle interplay between reactivity and structure which will be important for designing the next-generation hydrogen-storage materials.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)13275-13279
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume111
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-590-42484

Keywords

  • fullerenes
  • hydrogen storage
  • hydrogenation

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