Abstract

Abstract Hydrogen reaction kinetics of nanocrystalline MgH 2 co-catalyzed with Ba 3 (Ca 1+ x Nb 2− x )O 9− δ (BCN) proton conductive ceramics and nanoparticle bimetallic catalyst of Ni/Pd dispersed on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) support has been investigated. The nanoparticle bimetallic catalysts of Ni/Pd supported by SWNTs were synthesized based on a novel polyol method using NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O, PdCl 2 , NaOH and ethylene glycol (EG). The nanostructured Mg composites co-catalyzed with BCN and bimetallic supported catalysts exhibited stable hydrogen desorption capacity of 6.3–6.7 wt.% H 2 and the significant enhancement of hydrogen desorption kinetics at 230–300 °C in comparison to either non-catalyzed MgH 2 or the nanocomposite of MgH 2 catalyzed with BCN.