Synthesis of colloidal magnesium:: A near room temperature store for hydrogen

Surfactant-stabilized magnesium nanoparticles with a diameter of 5 nm have been successfully developed by electrochemical synthesis. To achieve the preparation of small magnesium particles, a synthesis by metal salt reduction in the liquid phase was chosen, which offers more control over size. Because of the low redox potential of magnesium, the magnesium salt was electrochemically reduced in a nonaqueous aprotic solvent containing a surfactant as electrolyte and nanoparticles stabilizer. The electrolysis was carried out in THF to avoid the formation of a passivating film at the electrodes surface. As produced spherical nanoparticles exhibited unique hydrogen storage properties, because they could reversibly store ~7.6 mass % hydrogen near room temperature.