Researchers have developed graphene-coated nanoporous carbon materials for ambient methane storage, overcoming challenges of high-pressure or cryogenic storage methods.
The graphene coating on porous carbon allows for high-density methane retention at moderate temperatures and ambient pressure, enhancing safety and efficiency.
By serving as a thermal lock, graphene controls access to nanopores, enabling controlled storage and release of methane through temperature modulation.
This innovation achieves a volumetric methane capacity equivalent to traditional pressurization near 19.9 MPa at room temperature, surpassing existing adsorbed natural gas systems.
The graphene-coated porous carbon system offers exceptional container space utilization and enhances safety compared to high-pressure or cryogenic storage methods.
The reversible storage system allows for dynamic energy management, enabling efficient storage during surplus energy production and controlled release when needed.
The materials' properties leverage graphene's strength and selective permeability, along with the porous carbon's high adsorption capacity, for efficient methane storage.
This advancement in nanomaterial engineering could revolutionize natural gas vehicles and storage facilities, improving range, payload capacity, and safety while cutting infrastructure costs.
The use of graphene to control molecular transport in porous materials expands scientific understanding and offers potential applications in hydrogen or carbon dioxide capture.
Future research directions include scaling up production, enhancing durability, and optimizing performance for commercial applications, aiming to advance sustainable fuel technologies globally.