Transition metal catalysts are particularly effective in improving the kinetics of the reversible hydrogen storage reaction for light metal hydrides. Herein, K2MoO4 microrods were prepared using a simple evaporative crystallization method, and it was confirmed that the kinetic properties of magnesium hydride could be adjusted by doping cubic K2MoO4 into MgH2. Its unique cubic structure forms new species in the process of hydrogen absorption and desorption, which shows excellent catalytic activity in the process of hydrogen storage in MgH2. The dissociation and adsorption time of hydrogen is related to the amount of K2MoO4. Generally speaking, the more K2MoO4, the faster the kinetic performance and the shorter the time used. According to the experimental results, the initial dehydrogenation temperature of MgH2 + 10 wt% K2MoO4 composite is 250 °C, which is about 110 °C lower than that of As-received MgH2. At 320 °C, almost all dehydrogenation was completed within 11 min. In the temperature rise hydrogen absorption test, the composite system can start to absorb hydrogen at about 70 °C. At 200 °C and 3 MPa hydrogen pressure, 5.5 wt% H2 can be absorbed within 20 min. In addition, the activation energy of hydrogen absorption and dehydrogenation of the composite system decreased by 14.8 kJ/mol and 26.54 kJ/mol, respectively, compared to pure MgH2. In the cycle-stability test of the composite system, the hydrogen storage capacity of MgH2 can still reach more than 92% after the end of the 10th cycle, and the hydrogen storage capacity only decreases by about 0.49 wt%. The synergistic effect among the new species MgO, MgMo2O7, and KH generated in situ during the reaction may help to enhance the absorption and dissociation of H2 on the Mg/MgH2 surface and improve the kinetics of MgH2 for absorption and dehydrogenation.
Keywords: K2MoO4; MgH2; hydrogen storage materials; kinetic properties; reversibility.