Cryogenic separation of hydrogen isotopes in single-walled carbon and boron-nitride nanotubes: insight into the mechanism of equilibrium quantum sieving in quasi-one-dimensional pores

Quasi-one-dimensional cylindrical pores of single-walled boron nitride and carbon nanotubes efficiently differentiate adsorbed hydrogen isotopes at 33 K. Extensive path integral Monte Carlo simulations revealed that the mechanisms of quantum sieving for both types of nanotubes are quantitatively similar; however, the stronger and heterogeneous external solid-fluid potential generated from single-walled boron nitride nanotubes enhanced the selectivity of deuterium over hydrogen both at zero coverage and at finite pressures. We showed that this enhancement of the D(2)/H(2) equilibrium selectivity results from larger localization of hydrogen isotopes in the interior space of single-walled boron nitride nanotubes in comparison to that of equivalent single-walled carbon nanotubes. The operating pressures for efficient quantum sieving of hydrogen isotopes are strongly depending on both the type as well as the size of the nanotube. For all investigated nanotubes, we predicted the occurrence of the minima of the D(2)/H(2) equilibrium selectivity at finite pressure. Moreover, we showed that those well-defined minima are gradually shifted upon increasing of the nanotube pore diameter. We related the nonmonotonic shape of the D(2)/H(2) equilibrium selectivity at finite pressures to the variation of the difference between the average kinetic energy computed from single-component adsorption isotherms of H(2) and D(2). In the interior space of both kinds of nanotubes hydrogen isotopes formed solid-like structures (plastic crystals) at 33 K and 10 Pa with densities above the compressed bulk para-hydrogen at 30 K and 30 MPa.     

Quantum sieving effect of three-dimensional Cu-based organic framework for H2 and D2

The crystal structure of [Cu(4,4'-bipyridine) 2(CF 3SO 3) 2] n metal-organic framework (CuBOTf) of one-dimensional pore networks after pre-evacuation at 383 K was determined with synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction measurement. Effective nanoporosity of the pre-evacuated CuBOTf was determined with N 2 adsorption at 77 K. The experimental H 2 and D 2 adsorption isotherms of CuBOTf at 40 and 77 K were measured and then compared with GCMC-simulated isotherms using the effective nanoporosity. The quantum-simulated H 2 and D 2 isotherms at 77 K using the Feynman-Hibbs effective potential coincided with the experimental ones, giving a direct evidence on the quantum molecular sieving effect for adsorption of H 2 and D 2 on CuBOTf. However, the selectivity for the 1:1 mixed gas of H 2 and D 2 was 1.2. On the contrary, experimental H 2 and D 2 isotherms at 40 K had an explicit adsorption hysteresis, originating from the marked pore blocking effect on measuring the adsorption branch. The blocking effect for quantum H 2 is more prominent than that for quantum D 2; the selectivity for D 2 over H 2 at 40 K was in the range of 2.6 to 5.8. The possibility of the quantum molecular sieving effect for H 2 and D 2 adsorption on [Cu 3(benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) 2(H 2O) 3] n of three-dimensional pore networks was also shown at 77 K.     

Thermodynamics of hydrogen adsorption in slit-like carbon nanopores at 77 K. Classical versus path-integral Monte Carlo simulations

Hydrogen in slit-like carbon nanopores at 77 K represents a quantum fluid in strong confinement. We have used path-integral grand canonical Monte Carlo and classical grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations for the investigation of the "quantumness" of hydrogen at 77 K adsorbed in slit-like carbon nanopores up to 1 MPa. We find that classical simulations overpredict the hydrogen uptake in carbon nanopores due to neglect of the quantum delocalization. Such disagreement of both simulation methods depends on the slit-like carbon pore size. However, the differences between the final uptakes of hydrogen computed from both classical and quantum simulations are not large due to a similar effective size of quantum/classical hydrogen molecules in carbon nanospaces. For both types of molecular simulations, the volumetric density of stored energy in optimal carbon nanopores exceeds 6.4 MJ dm(-3) (i.e., 45 kg m(-3); Department of Energy target for 2010). In contrast to the hydrogen adsorption isotherms, we found a large reduction of isosteric enthalpy of adsorption computed from the quantum Feynman's path-integral simulations in comparison to the classical values at 77 K and pressures up to 1 MPa. Depression of the quantum isosteric enthalpy of adsorption depends on the slit-like carbon pore size. For the narrow pores (pore width H in [0.59-0.7] nm), the reduction of the quantum isosteric enthalpy of adsorption at zero coverage is around 50% in comparison to the classical one. We observed new phenomena called, by us, the quantum confinement-inducing polymer shrinking. In carbon nanospaces, the quantum cyclic polymers shrink, in comparison to its bulk-phase counterpart, due to a strong confinement effect. At considered storage conditions, this complex phenomenon depends on the size of the slit-like carbon nanopore and the density of hydrogen volumetric energy. For the smallest nanopores and a low density of hydrogen volumetric energy, the reduction of the polymer effective size is the highest, whereas an increase of the pore size and the density of hydrogen volumetric energy causes the polymer swelling up to a value slightly below the one computed from the bulk phase. Quantum confinement-inducing polymer shrinking is of great importance for realizing the potential of quantum molecular sieves.     

Diffuse Reflectance IR Spectra of Molecular Hydrogen and Deuterium Adsorbed on Zinc Oxide

Diffuse reflectance IR spectroscopy is used to study hydrogen and deuterium adsorption on zinc oxide at room temperature and 77 K. At room temperature, H₂ and D₂ molecules are dissociatively adsorbed with the formation of hydrides and hydroxy groups of three types. At 77 K, diffuse reflectance spectra reveal the bands from molecular hydrogen and deuterium in addition to the dissociatively adsorbed forms. The presence of several bands of stretching H–H and D–D vibrations points to the nonuniformity of adsorption sites. This nonuniformity is also confirmed by the fact that, after heating zinc oxide from 77 K to room temperature in an atmosphere of hydrogen, only an insignificant portion of adsorbed molecular hydrogen dissociates. Most of dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen is formed without a molecular precursor. The dissociation of H₂ and D₂ most likely occurs on very active adsorption species so rapidly that the molecular precursor is not observed. The bond energy in molecular deuterium precursors of dissociation estimated from the fundamental vibration frequency and the overtone of D–D vibrations suggests moderate excitation of the bond. This agrees well with the conclusion that the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen and deuterium occurs without a molecular precursor.     

Quasi one-dimensional nanopores in single-wall carbon nanohorn colloids using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation aided adsorption technique

The average interstitial nanopore structure of single-wall carbon nanohorn (SWNH) assemblies was determined using X-ray diffraction and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation aided N(2) adsorption at 77 K. The interstitial nanopores of SWNH assemblies can be regarded as quasi one-dimensional pores due to the partial orientation of the SWNH particles; the average pore width of the interstitial pores is 0.6 nm. Good agreement between the GCMC simulation of a structural model with one-dimensional interstitial nanopores and an experimental adsorption isotherm below P/P(0) = 10(-4) is evidence of the quasi one-dimensionality of the interstitial nanopores. A snapshot from the GCMC simulation showed one-dimensional growth of adsorbed N(2) molecules.     

Adsorption of gases in metal organic materials: comparison of simulations and experiments

Molecular simulations using standard force fields have been carried out to model the adsorption of various light gases on a number of different metal organic framework-type materials. The results have been compared with the available experimental data to test the validity of the model potentials. We observe good agreement between simulations and experiments for a number of different cases and very poor agreement in other cases. Possible reasons for the discrepancy in simulated and measured isotherms are discussed. We predict hydrogen adsorption isotherms at 77 and 298 K in a number of different metal organic framework materials. The importance of quantum diffraction effects and framework charges on the adsorption of hydrogen at 77 K is discussed. Our calculations indicate that at room temperature none of the materials that we have tested is able to meet the requirements for on-board hydrogen storage for fuel cell vehicles. We have calculated the volume available in a given sorbent at a specified adsorption energy (density of states). We discuss how this density of states can be used to assess the effectiveness of a sorbent material for hydrogen storage.     

Kinetic isotope effect for H2 and D2 quantum molecular sieving in adsorption/desorption on porous carbon materials

Adsorption and desorption of H(2) and D(2) from porous carbon materials, such as activated carbon at 77 K, are usually fully reversible with very rapid adsorption/desorption kinetics. The adsorption and desorption of H(2) and D(2) at 77 K on a carbon molecular sieve (Takeda 3A), where the kinetic selectivity was incorporated by carbon deposition, and a carbon, where the pore structure was modified by thermal annealing to give similar pore structure characteristics to the carbon molecular sieve substrate, were studied. The D(2) adsorption and desorption kinetics were significantly faster (up to x1.9) than the corresponding H(2) kinetics for specific pressure increments/decrements. This represents the first experimental observation of kinetic isotope quantum molecular sieving in porous materials due to the larger zero-point energy for the lighter H(2), resulting in slower adsorption/desorption kinetics compared with the heavier D(2). The results are discussed in terms of the adsorption mechanism.     

Kinetic and geometric isotope effects originating from different adsorption potential energy surfaces: cyclohexane on Rh(111)

Novel isotope effects were observed in desorption kinetics and adsorption geometry of cyclohexane on Rh(111) by the use of infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, photoelectron spectroscopy, and spot-profile-analysis low energy electron diffraction. The desorption energy of deuterated cyclohexane (C(6)D(12)) is lower than that of C(6)H(12). In addition, the work function change by adsorbed C(6)D(12) is smaller than that by adsorbed C(6)H(12). These results indicate that C(6)D(12) has a shallower adsorption potential than C(6)H(12) (vertical geometric isotope effect). The lateral geometric isotope effect was also observed in the two-dimensional cyclohexane superstructures as a result of the different repulsive interaction between interfacial dipoles. The observed isotope effects should be ascribed to the quantum nature of hydrogen involved in the C-H···metal interaction.     

Opening mechanism of internal nanoporosity of single-wall carbon nanohorn

Single-wall carbon nanohorn (SWNH), which is a tubular particle with a cone cap, was oxidized in an oxygen flow at various temperatures. N(2) adsorption at 77 K, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy measurements were carried out on the oxidized SWNHs. The specific surface area of the oxidized SWNHs can be controlled by oxidation temperature, giving the maximum value of 1420 m(2)/g. The pore size distribution by the BJH method and the comparison plot of the N(2) adsorption isotherms of SWNH oxidized at different temperatures against that of as-grown SWNH revealed the minimum oxidation temperature for opening internal nanopores. TG-DTA analyses determined the components of as-grown SWNH: amorphous carbon 2.5 wt %, defective carbon at the cone part 15 wt %, tubular carbon 70 wt %, and graphitic carbon 12 wt %. These systematic analyses provided the exact internal nanopore volume of 0.49 mL/g for pure SWNH particles.     

Experimental and theoretical study of D2/H2 quantum sieving in a carbon molecular sieve

The present work aims at providing additional insight into the crucial effect of pore size and pressure on the adsorption of H₂ and D₂ in porous carbons by means of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations in model slit micropores at 77 K. In order to address the quantum behavior of the molecules the Feynman–Hibbs corrected LJ interaction potential is used for fluid–solid and fluid–fluid interactions. Based on the GCMC isotherms for the two isotopes, D₂ selectivity over H₂ is deduced for pores with different sizes as a function of pressure. Furthermore, GCMC results are coupled with experimental high pressure H₂ and D₂ adsorption data at 77 K for a commercial carbon molecular sieve (Takeda 3A).     

氢同位素吸附容量与吸附剂比表面积的关系

采用容积法测量了77 K下氢气与氘气在不同微孔与介孔分子筛吸附剂上的吸附容量与比表面积. 结果表明, 同类吸附剂上氢同位素的吸附容量与其比表面积之间存在较好的线性关系, 这有力地证明了超临界温度下氢同位素吸附遵循单分子层吸附机理. 在相同的温度、压力和比表面积条件下, 氢同位素气体在微孔分子筛上的吸附容量比介孔分子筛上的大, 这是由于在吸附剂微孔内吸附势场叠加所致, 并通过构建的吸附势模型, 较好地解释了该实验结果.     

Clathrate formation mechanism of supercritical hydrogen adsorption on copper(II) benzoate pyrazine

The adsorption isotherms of supercritical hydrogen on [Cu2(bz)4(pyz)]n were measured at 77 K up to 10 MPa. The amount of supercritical hydrogen adsorbed on [Cu2(bz)4(pyz)]n at 77 K was 1.4 wt % at 10 MPa. The adsorption isotherms of supercritical hydrogen on [Cu2(bz)4(pyz)]n showed a stepwise adsorption that suggests clathrate formation between [Cu2(bz)4(pyz)]n and hydrogen molecules.     

Isotope effects in ice Ih: a path-integral simulation

Ice Ih has been studied by path-integral molecular dynamics simulations, using the effective q-TIP4P/F potential model for flexible water. This has allowed us to analyze finite-temperature quantum effects in this solid phase from 25 to 300 K at ambient pressure. Among these effects we find a negative thermal expansion of ice at low temperatures, which does not appear in classical molecular dynamics simulations. The compressibility derived from volume fluctuations gives results in line with experimental data. We have analyzed isotope effects in ice Ih by considering normal, heavy, and tritiated water. In particular, we studied the effect of changing the isotopic mass of hydrogen on the kinetic energy and atomic delocalization in the crystal as well as on structural properties such as interatomic distances and molar volume. For D(2)O ice Ih at 100 K we obtained a decrease in molar volume and intramolecular O-H distance of 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively, as compared to H(2)O ice.     

Quantum effects on adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen and deuterium in microporous materials

Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations and neutron scattering experiments are used to study the adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen and deuterium in zeolite Rho in the temperature range of 30-150 K. In the molecular simulations, quantum effects are incorporated via the Feynman-Hibbs variational approach. We suggest a new set of potential parameters for hydrogen, which can be used when Feynman-Hibbs variational approach is used for quantum corrections. The dynamic properties obtained from molecular dynamics simulations are in excellent agreement with the experimental results and show significant quantum effects on the transport at very low temperature. The molecular dynamics simulation results show that the quantum effect is very sensitive to pore dimensions and under suitable conditions can lead to a reverse kinetic molecular sieving with deuterium diffusing faster than hydrogen.     

Adsorption of hydrogen on nanoporous carbon adsorbents

Four samples of active carbons with specific micropore volumes of 0.4—1.33 cm³g^-1 at 77 K and pressures up to 5 MPa were used to study hydrogen adsorption. The highest amount of of hydrogen adsorbed on these active carbons at the boiling point 20.38 K and pressure 0.101 MPa was calculated by methods derived from the theory of volumetric filling of micropores (TVFM). The adsorbent FAS-1-05 prepared by the liquid-phase polymerization of furfurol was shown to have the highest adsorption capacity. The amounts of hydrogen adsorbed on FAS-1-05 at temperatures 77, 196, and 300 K and pressures 7 and 20 MPa were calculated using the TVFM methods with allowance for linearity of the isosters. The results were compared with the experimental values obtained at 77 K and pressure below 5.1 MPa and at 293 K and pressures up to 16.1 MPa. The highest amounts of hydrogen adsorbed (6.2 wt.% for the adsorbent FAS-1-05) were obtained under pressures below 5.1 MPa and at 77 K.     

Isotope effect of proton and deuteron adsorption site on zeolite-templated carbon using path integral molecular dynamics

To analyze the proton/deuteron (H/D) isotope effect on the stable adsorption sites on zeolite-templated carbon (ZTC), we have performed path integral molecular dynamics simulations including thermal and nuclear quantum effects with the semi-empirical PM3 potential at 300?K. Here, for the adsorption sites of additional proton (H*) and deuteron (D*), we chose different five carbon atoms labeled as ??-, ??₁-, ??₂-, ??-, and ??-carbons from edge to bottom for inside of buckybowl (C₃₆H₁₂ and C₃₆D₁₂). The stable adsorption sites of D* are observed on all carbon atoms, while those of H* are not observed on ??-carbon atom, but only on ??-, ??₁-, ??₂-, and ??-carbon atoms. This result is explained by the fact that H* can easily go over the barrier height for hydrogen transferring from ??- to ??₂-carbons at 300?K, since the zero-point energy of H* is greater than that of D*.     

Surface interactions and quantum kinetic molecular sieving for H2 and D2 adsorption on a mixed metal-organic framework material

A rational strategy has been used to immobilize open metal sites in ultramicroporosity for stronger binding of multiple H 2 molecules per unsaturated metal site for H 2 storage applications. The synthesis and structure of a mixed zinc/copper metal-organic framework material Zn 3(BDC) 3[Cu(Pyen)] .(DMF) 5(H 2O) 5 (H 2BDC = 1,4 benzenedicarboxylic acid and PyenH 2 = 5-methyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde) is reported. Desolvation provides a bimodal porous structure Zn 3(BDC) 3[Cu(Pyen)] (M'MOF 1) with narrow porosity (<0.56 nm) and an array of pores in the bc crystallographic plane where the adsorbate-adsorbent interactions are maximized by both the presence of open copper centers and overlap of the potential energy fields from pore walls. The H 2 and D 2 adsorption isotherms for M'MOF 1 at 77.3 and 87.3 K were reversible with virtually no hysteresis. Methods for determination of the isosteric enthalpies of H 2 and D 2 adsorption were compared. A virial model gave the best agreement (average deviation <1 standard deviation) with the isotherm data. This was used in conjunction with the van't Hoff isochore giving isosteric enthalpies at zero surface coverage of 12.29 +/- 0.53 and 12.44 +/- 0.50 kJ mol (-1) for H 2 and D 2 adsorption, respectively. This is the highest value so far observed for hydrogen adsorption on a porous material. The enthalpy of adsorption, decreases with increasing amount adsorbed to 9.5 kJ mol (-1) at approximately 1.9 mmol g (-1) (2 H 2 or D 2 molecules per Cu corresponding to adsorption on both sides of planar Cu open centers) and is virtually unchanged in the range 1.9-3.6 mmol g (-1). Virial analysis of isotherms at 87.3 K is also consistent with two H 2 or D 2 molecules being bound to each open Cu center. The adsorption kinetics follow a double exponential model, corresponding to diffusion along two types of pores, a slow component with high activation energy (13.35 +/- 0.59 kJ mol (-1)) for the narrow pores and a faster component with low activation energy (8.56 +/- 0.41 kJ mol (-1)). The D 2 adsorption kinetic constants for both components were significantly faster than the corresponding H 2 kinetics for specific pressure increments and had slightly lower activation energies than the corresponding values for H 2 adsorption. The kD 2/ kH 2 ratio for the slow component was 1.62 +/- 0.07, while the fast component was 1.38 +/- 0.04 at 77.3 K, and the corresponding ratios were smaller at 87.3 K. These observations of kinetic isotope quantum molecular sieving in porous materials are due to the larger zero-point energy for the lighter H 2, resulting in slower adsorption kinetics compared with the heavier D 2. The results show that a combination of open metal centers and confinement in ultramicroporosity leads to a high enthalpy for H 2 adsorption over a wide range of surface coverage and quantum effects influence diffusion of H 2 and D 2 in pores in M'MOF 1.     

新型掺杂多孔芳香骨架材料的储氢性能模拟

基于PAF-301分子模型通过Li掺杂或B取代等模式设计了几种新型多孔芳香骨架(PAFs)材料,采用量子力学和分子力学方法对新材料的储氢性能进行研究.由量子力学计算得到了不同分子片段与H2之间的结合能,并结合DDEC方法计算了各分子片段的原子电荷分布.利用巨正则蒙特卡洛(GCMC)模拟方法计算了77和298 K下H2在不同PAFs材料中的吸附平衡性质.结果表明,H2直接与苯环的结合能较低,但掺杂Li原子能够提高H2与六元环的结合能,同时Li原子体现出较高的正电性质,B原子取代苯环中的两个C原子后,使得原有C原子电负性增强;77 K下PAF-301Li具有最高的储氢性能,而PAF-C4B2H4-Li2-Si和PAF-C4B2H4-Li2-Ge体现出较好的常温储氢性能,各种材料的常温储氢性能远低于其低温储氢性能.通过77 K下H2在PAFs材料中的等位能面分布和吸附平衡质心密度分布对H2在PAFs材料中的优先吸附位置进行分析,发现在PAF-301和PAF-301Li骨架中,由于中心能量较低的等位能区域范围较宽,H2在其中存在四个明显的吸附高密度分布区域,而其它三种PAFs晶胞中心能量较低的等位能区域范围较窄,使得H2在其中只存在两个明显的吸附高密度分布区域.     

H2对Rh-Mn-Li-Ti/SiO2催化剂上CO吸附和脱附的影响

 应用红外光谱和程序升温脱附技术研究了Rh-Mn-Li-Ti/SiO2催化剂上H2对CO吸附和脱附的影响. 结果表明,预吸附的H2主要占据线式CO的吸附位. 共吸附时H2与CO在Rh位上形成了羰基氢化物,从而导致线式物种谱带红移,且高的H2浓度有利于CO的吸附. 在323 K下, H2对预吸附的CO谱带位置和强度没有影响. 但是,随着温度的升高, H2的存在促进了弱吸附CO的脱附,并使之重新吸附; 同时, H2促进了强吸附CO的解离,增强了CO的吸附强度和催化剂的吸附能力.     

Covalent organic frameworks as exceptional hydrogen storage materials

We report the H2 uptake properties of six covalent organic frameworks (COFs) from first-principles-based grand canonical Monte-Carlo simulations. The predicted H2 adsorption isotherm is in excellent agreement with the only available experimental result (3.3 vs 3.4 wt % at 50 bar and 77 K for COF-5), also reported here, validating the predictions. We predict that COF-105 and COF-108 lead to a reversible excess H2 uptake of 10.0 wt % at 77 K, making them the best known storage materials for molecular hydrogen at 77 K. We predict that the total H2 uptake for COF-108 is 18.9 wt % at 77 K. COF-102 shows the best volumetric performance, storing 40.4 g/L of H2 at 77 K. These results indicate that the COF systems are most promising candidates for practical hydrogen storage.