Constructing Ni-O-Zr interfaces to induce oxygen vacancies with enhanced metal-carrier interactions for robust hydrogen storage in magnesium hydride

By constructing Ni-O-Zr interfaces, oxygen vacancies were generated and the interaction between the metal and the support in the catalyst was significantly enhanced. This synergy between Ni 0 and oxygen vacancies greatly boosted the catalytic activity of Ni 50 /ZrO 2 in the hydrogen storage system. Experimental tests showed that the MgH 2  + 10 wt%Ni 50 /ZrO 2 composite had a reduced initial hydrogen desorption temperature of 194.5 °C and released 6.30 wt%H 2 within 10 min at 265 °C. Notably, this composite exhibited excellent low-temperature hydrogen absorption kinetics, initiating absorption at 29 °C and nearly completing it (6.67 wt%H 2 ) at 134 °C. Furthermore, the activation energy for the modified MgH 2 had been substantially decreased from 76.66 kJ/mol to 32.01 kJ/mol (absorption) and 155.84 kJ/mol to 83.93 kJ/mol (desorption), respectively. The presence of oxygen vacancies at the Ni-O-Zr interface significantly amplified the catalyst’s charge conduction capabilities and provided a promising avenue for the development of effective catalysis for robust hydrogen storage.