Enhanced hydrogen-storage properties of MgH2 by Fe–Ni catalyst modified three-dimensional graphene

High dehydrogenation temperature and slow dehydrogenation kinetics impede the practical application of magnesium hydride (MgH2) serving as a potential hydrogen storage medium. In this paper, Fe–Ni catalyst modified three-dimensional graphene was added to MgH2 by ball milling to optimize the hydrogen storage performance, the impacts and mechanisms of which are systematically investigated based on the thermodynamic and kinetic analysis. The MgH2+10 wt%Fe–Ni@3DG composite system can absorb 6.35 wt% within 100 s (300 °C, 50 atm H2 pressure) and release 5.13 wt% within 500 s (300 °C, 0.5 atm H2 pressure). In addition, it can absorb 6.5 wt% and release 5.7 wt% within 10 min during 7 cycles, exhibiting excellent cycle stability without degradation. The absorption-desorption mechanism of MgH2 can be changed by the synergistic effects of the two catalyst materials, which significantly promotes the improvement of kinetic performance of dehydrogenation process and reduces the hydrogen desorption temperature.