Studies show C_(60) and Ca might be a new hydrogen-storage material

摘要

Working with US scientists, Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers have discovered a new nanomaterial which is capable of high-capacity hydrogen storage. Because of their promising prospects for hydrogen storage, carbon-based nano-materials have been in the spotlight for the past decade, However, the poor absorption of hydrogen molecules on the surface of the materials hinders their practical application under room temperature and pressure. To overcome the technical snag, scientists have contrived many methods to modify the carbon-based materials, including coating the surfaces with transition or alkali metals, and sub-stitutionally doping the nanostructures with light elements. Still, the resulting effects are unsatisfactory.