Releasing H2 molecules with a partial pressure difference without the use of temperature

TL;DR

This study demonstrates a method to release hydrogen molecules from a transition metal atom using partial pressure differences of hydrogen and ammonia, avoiding temperature changes, with potential applications in hydrogen storage.

Contribution

We introduce a thermodynamic approach to induce hydrogen desorption via partial pressure differences, eliminating the need for temperature increase in nanostructured storage materials.

Findings

Hydrogen molecules are released at low pressures without heating.

The process mimics oxygen-CO partial pressure mechanisms in hemoglobin.

Potential for improved hydrogen storage technologies.

Abstract

Using the pseudopotential density functional method as well as equilibrium thermodynamic functions, we explore the process of releasing H2 molecules adsorbed on a transition metal atom caused by the hydrogen-ammonia partial pressure difference. The H2 molecules bind to a transition metal atom at H2 pressure-NH3 pressure-temperature 50 atm-10-9 atm-25 {\deg}C, and they are released at 3 atm-10-6 atm-25 {\deg}C. This process involves the same mechanism responsible for carbon monoxide poisoning of hemoglobin with the O2-CO partial pressure difference. We show that our findings can be applicable to an approach to induce hydrogen desorption on nanostructured hydrogen storage materials without the need for increasing temperature.