Ni foam-immobilized MIL-101(Cr) nanocrystals toward system integration for hydrogen storage

Abstract

Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are only obtained as loose powders with low packing density and thermal conductivity. To enable the developed MOF powdered materials to be utilized in a hydrogen storage system, in this study, MIL-101 nanocrystals, as an example, were prepared and immobilized on Ni foam as multi-layers. The hydrogen storage properties of individual and hybrid materials were assessed and compared. The hybrid material with 81 wt.% loading of MIL-101(Cr) nanocrystals exhibited a hydrogen adsorption capacity of 1.5 wt.% at 77 K and pressure up to 1 bar. Although the value is compromised relative to that of pure MIL-101(Cr) powder (1.9 wt.%), this approach facilitates the transition of developed MOFs powdered materials from laboratory toward system integration.