초록

An apparatus and method for sorption and desorption of molecular gas contained by storage sites of graphite nano-filaments randomly disposed in three-dimensional reticulated aerogel.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A gas storage apparatus comprising: a pressure vessel including: a polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells; a nanostructure grown on said polymeric structure, said polymeric structure and said nanostructure capable of sorbing a molecular gas; and a

What is claimed is: 1. A gas storage apparatus comprising: a pressure vessel including: a polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells; a nanostructure grown on said polymeric structure, said polymeric structure and said nanostructure capable of sorbing a molecular gas; and a catalyst disposed on said polymeric structure bonded to carboxyl sites disposed on said polymeric structure to form catalyst islands; wherein said nanostructure is configured to be grown from said catalyst islands. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nanostructure comprises a structure taken from the group consisting of platelet carbon nano-fiber, cylindrical carbon nanostructure, ribbon carbon nano-fiber, faceted tubular carbon nano-fiber and herringbone carbon nano-fiber. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells comprises particles having a diameter of up to 100 Angstroms. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells comprises a polymeric structure formed from a solution of one of either formaldehyde-resorcinol (RF) or phenolic-furfural (PF). 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells comprises a carbon aerogel structure having a density of about the order of 100 mg/cc. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymeric structure of interconnected particles creating open cells comprises a carbon aerogel structure having a surface area in the range of between about 0.2 m2/gm and 3000 m2/gm. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said molecular gas is taken from the group consisting of hydrogen and oxygen. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymeric structure comprises a catalyzed carbon aerogel monolith structure. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nanostructure comprises solid fibers or hollow tubes of carbon. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said open cells range in size up to about 1000 Angstroms. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deposited catalyst is taken from a group of transition metals consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and combinations thereof. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deposited catalyst comprises an alloy of 70% Fe and 30% Cu. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nanostructure is configured to be grown from said catalyst islands by preparing graphite nano-filaments by the decomposition of an effective amount of carbon-containing gas mixture precursors on said polymeric structure at an elevated temperature. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said elevated temperature is in the range of between about 500�� F. and about 2000�� F. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said carbon-containing gas mixture comprises gases taken from the group consisting of acetylene, benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel is configured to receive said molecular gas at a temperature of between about 77�� K and about 300�� K.