Reversible Storage of Molecular Hydrogen by Sorption into Multilayered TiO2 Nanotubes

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Abstract
The sorption of hydrogen between the layers of the multilayered wall of nanotubular TiO2 was studied in the temperature range of −195 to 200 °C and at pressures of 0 to 6 bar. Hydrogen can intercalate between layers in the walls of TiO2 nanotubes forming host−guest compounds TiO2·xH2, where x ≤ 1.5 and decreases at higher temperatures. The rate of hydrogen incorporation increases with temperature and the characteristic time for hydrogen sorption in TiO2 nanotubes is several hours at 100 °C. The rate of intercalate formation is limited by the diffusion of molecular hydrogen inside the multilayered walls of the TiO2 nanotube. 1H NMR-MAS and XRD data confirm the incorporation of hydrogen between the layers in the walls of TiO2 nanotubes. The nature and possible applications of the observed intercalates are considered.