Synthesis, Characterization and Hydrogen Absorption Study of Silver-Gold Porous Bimetallic Nanoalloy

Abstract

Keeping in view the recent advances in hydrogen energy and the lack of efficient hydrogen storage materials, a bimetallic porous nanoalloy has been synthesized by the inverse- Leidenfrost method. The prepared alloy was characterized using XRPD, SEM/EDS, FTIR and TGA. The comparison of XRPD data with the standards shows the presence of both Ag and Au in the nanoalloy while the SEM micrographs clearly show the porous morphology having structural defects that can absorb hydrogen. The hydrogen absorption studies were performed at low temperature of -78℃ using vacuum line fitted with nitrogen and hydrogen gas. The weight percent of absorbed hydrogen was determined by the loss in weight percent by TGA. A loss of approximately 2.95% demonstrates that the nanoalloy can be used as a benign shockroof and hazard free hydrogen storage material for energy applications. This nanoalloy can provide a catalytic design for the future hydrogen storage materials.