Preparation of metal-carbon composites from banana peel charcoal and metal salts for hydrogen storage by pyrolysis method

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Thailand

E-mail : sumritm@nu.ac.th

Manuscript received online 01 November 2013, revised 02 January 2014, accepted 06 January 2014

The metal-carbon composite materials from mixtures of banana peel charcoal and metal salts were studied. The synthesized materials are mixtures of banana peel charcoal (carbonized at 500 ºC) and 5 wt% of metal salts [aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃ ), copper nitrate (Cu(NO₃ )₂ ), zinc chloride (ZnCl₂ ), and magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄ .7H₂O)]. The synthesis process of the metal-carbon composite materials is pyrolysis at 400, 500, 600 and 700 ºC for 1 h in a closed crucible. The final products have been analyzed for percent yield and characterized using FT-IR, SEM and XRD. The hydrogen storage properties of pyrolysed products were also investigated. The percent yields of products decrease with increasing pyrolysis temperature from 400 ºC to 700 ºC. The FTIR spectra of products show small functional groups. The SEM microphotographs of products showed granular nanoparticles (θ = 58.61–400.5 nm) and nanofibers (θ= 62–261 nm, long = 200 µm). XRD patterns of products revealed graphitized and nano/amorphous carbon phases. The maximum hydrogen storage capacities of Cu-composites are between 6.06 wt% and 6.22 wt%.