Synergistic Effect of CeF3 Nanoparticles Supported on Ti3C2 MXene for Catalyzing Hydrogen Storage of NaAlH4

The rational design of catalysts is extraordinarily significant for facilitating the dehydrogenation kinetics of NaAlH4. Herein, CeF3 nanoparticles supported on Ti3C2 MXene (CeF3/Ti3C2) were successfully synthesized and applied to catalyze the hydrogen storage properties of NaAlH4. With the addition of 10 wt % CeF3/Ti3C2, the onset dehydrogenation temperature was lowered to 87 °C and more than 3.0 wt % H2 can be released at 140 °C within 6 min. Moreover, the composite exhibited wonderful stability and reversibility with 94.5% capacity retention after 10 cycles of continued tests. The compositional and structural analysis demonstrated that a Ti–F–Ce structure at the interface between CeF3 and Ti3C2 was formed and remained stable during the ball milling, urging the stabilization of Ti0 catalytic species in the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of NaAlH4. The remarkably enhanced hydrogen storage behavior was attributed to the synergy effects of Ti0 species and the outstanding stable structure of Ti–F–Ce from the CeF3/Ti3C2 catalyst. The findings have widened the road for the rational design of high efficiency catalysts to improve the hydrogen storage performance of NaAlH4.