Group leader: C. Milanese

Group members: Giovanna Bruni, Pacifico Cofrancesco, Alessandro Girella, Ilaria Frosi, Adele Papetti

The research group has been dedicated for more than 15 years to the development of innovative nanomaterials for solid-state hydrogen storage. Attention is currently focused in particular on carbon-based materials obtainable through pyrolysis from agro-food waste (cereal waste, vegetable skins, droppings), as part of the principles of the circular economy. The superactivated carbon is obtained by pyrolysis under controlled atmosphere of the agro-food waste suitably washed, dried and ground, and subsequent activation in a basic environment. The materials are then decorated with metal nanoparticles, acting as catalysts, in collaboration with the University of Parma. On the starting materials and on the composites obtained in the different stages of preparation, thermogravimetric, calorimetric, porosimetric, spectroscopic and diffractometric analyzes are carried out to evaluate the physico-chemical properties. The hydrogen storage performance by varying pressure and temperature is assessed with state-of-the-art manometric, calorimetric and gravimetric techniques. The group is also involved in the preparation and physico-chemical characterization of complex hydrides and metal hydrides in collaboration with the University of Oslo and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Research Center in Geesthacht.

Dipartimento di Fisica, Matematica e Informatica – Università di Parma;
Dipartimento di Chimica, Fisica, Matematica e Scienze Naturali – Università di Sassari;
CNR-Nano – Pisa,
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Geesthacht,
University of Sidney,
University of Oslo,
University of Valladolid,
University of Nottingham,
University of Coventry

Automation S.r.l., Setaram France, Neutel Telemetry

Karimi F., Pranzas P. K., Puszkiel J. A., Castro Riglos M. V., Milanese C., Vainio U., Pistidda C., Gizer G., Klassen T., Schreyer A., Dornheim M. (2021).
A comprehensive study on lithium-based reactive hydride composite (Li-RHC) as a reversible solid-state hydrogen storage system toward potential mobile applications.
RSC ADVANCES, vol. 11, p. 23122-23135, ISSN: 2046-2069, doi: 10.1039/d1ra03246a

Khzouz M., Gkanas E. I., Girella A., Statheros T., Milanese C. (2020).
Sustainable hydrogen production via LiH hydrolysis for unmanned air vehicle (UAV) applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, vol. 45, p. 5384-5394, ISSN: 0360-3199, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.05.189

Rueda M., Benito-Roman O., Girella A., Cofrancesco P., Milanese C. (2020).
Hydrogen storage properties of magnesium borohydride infiltrated in silica aerogel using solvated and pressure methods.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE, vol. 31, ISSN: 2352-152X, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2020.101674