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

Authors: Amin A. El-Meligi; Nahla Ismail; Mahmoud Madian

Addresses: National Research Centre, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Science, Physical Chemistry Department, P.O. Box 12311, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. ' National Research Centre, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Science, Physical Chemistry Department, P.O. Box 12311, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. ' National Research Centre, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Science, Physical Chemistry Department, P.O. Box 12311, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern exhibits sharp 001 reflections of the MgPS₃ 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 ?(PS₃)^2- stretching at 570 cm^?1 of pure MgPS₃ was shown by infrared (IR). New application as a hydrogen storage material is investigated. The average gravimetric capacity is about 16 g H₂/kg of MgPS₂ at 25 bars and cryogenic temperature.

Keywords: layered materials; hydrogen storage; x-ray diffraction; XRD; scanning electron microscopy; SEM; MgPS3; magnesium thiophosphate; layered structure; nanoparticles; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2011.043495

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.326 - 335

Received: 03 May 2010
Accepted: 23 Jul 2010
Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

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