Characterising layered structure of MgPS3 and new application as a hydrogen storage material

X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern exhibits sharp 001 reflections of the MgPS 3 layered material with interlayer gap (d-spacing) of 6.4 Å. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows a pattern of conglomerates of layers quite uniform in size, around 100–200 nm. TEM images show homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles of about 60–200 nm in size. These particles tend to be agglomerated in hyperbranched structures. Thermal stability was detected by DSC-TGA, which shows decomposition temperature up to 740°C relying on the rate of heating. Strong peak of n(PS 3 ) 2– stretching at 570 cm –1 of pure MgPS 3 was shown by infrared (IR). New application as a hydrogen storage material is investigated. The average gravimetric capacity is about 16 g H 2 /kg of MgPS 3 at 25 bars and cryogenic temperature.