Hydrogen adsorption on heptazine-based g-C3N4/graphene nanocomposites decorated with first-row transition metals (Sc–Zn)
Kanthira Kaewsud, Beate Paulus and Vithaya Ruangpornvisuti – 2025
The adsorption of multiple hydrogen molecules on first-row transition metals (M = Sc–Zn) decorated on heptazine-based graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet/graphene (hg‒C3N4‒NS/G) nanocomposites was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) with the PBE-D3 method. The single H2 adsorption on V-, Cr-, Mn-, Co-, Ni-, and Zn-decorated hg‒C3N4‒NS/G surfaces is characterized by weak physisorption, of which adsorption energies are within the range of 0.09 to 0.19 eV. In contrast, Sc-, Ti-, Fe-, and Cu-decorated nanocomposites exhibit significantly stronger H2 adsorption ( 0.33 to 0.54 eV), driven by Kubas-type interactions, fully meeting DOE requirements. Further evaluation of multiple H2 adsorption on these four systems indicates moderate physisorption, of which adsorption energies are within the range of 0.08 to 0.10 eV. These findings suggest that Sc-, Ti-, Fe-, and Cu-decorated hg‒C3N4‒NS/G nanocomposites are promising candidates for practical hydrogen storage and provide a basis of rational design of high-performance nanostructured materials for hydrogen storage.
