MOF-GO Hybrid Nanocomposite Adsorbents for Methane Storage

In this study, the storage of methane in nanocomposite adsorbents comprising metal-organic framework (MOF) and graphene oxide (GO) was investigated. Three different sets of MOF-GO nanocomposites comprising HKUST-1 and pristine GO, reduced GO (rGO), and carboxyl-functionalized GO (fGO) were developed by the solvothermal method, and their methane storage characteristics were assessed through high-pressure methane adsorption measurements. The formation of MOF-GO nanocomposites was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, and TEM. All three types of nanocomposites exhibited higher surface area and porosity than the pristine MOF. Our results indicated that MOF@rGO nanocomposite with 10 wt % rGO exhibited the best performance with a methane deliverable capacity of 193 cm3(STP)/cm3 in the pressure range of 5.8-65 bar and at room temperature which was approximately 30% higher than that of pristine HKUST-1 with deliverable capacity of 149 cm3(STP)/cm ³ . Moreover, the methane deliverable capacity of MOF@GO and MOF@fGO were found to be 181 and 162 cm ³ (STP)/cm ³ , respectively. The findings of this study demonstrate the synergistic effect of graphene oxide on methane storage performance of MOF-GO nanocomposites.