Evidence for large hydrogen storage capacity in single-walled carbon nanotubes encapsulated by electroplating Pd onto a Pd substrate

We report a study of hydrogen storage in an alternative material, representing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) encapsulated by thin Pd layers onto a Pd substrate. A synergetic effect resulting in combination of the Pd and the SWCNTs properties with regards to hydrogen has been achieved. Adding SWCNTs increases the H₂ capacity of the Pd-SWCNT composite by up to 25% relative to Pd metal alone under electrochemical loading. This results in a storage capacity of 8--120.3em0exwt0.2em0ex%. with regard to the added SWCNTs.