Synergistic interfaces in carbon nanotube–metal oxide composites: Unlocking next-generation hydrogen storage capabilities
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Carbon nanotube–metal oxide (CNT–MO) composites have attracted considerable attention as advanced hydrogen storage materials because of their synergistic structural, electronic, and catalytic properties. Their strong interfacial interactions enhance hydrogen adsorption–desorption kinetics, storage capacity, reversibility, and overall material stability. This review critically examines recent progress in CNT–MO composites for hydrogen storage, with particular emphasis on the relationship between synthesis strategies, interfacial engineering, structural characteristics, and hydrogen storage performance. Various hydrogen adsorption mechanisms, including physisorption, chemisorption, Kubas interaction, and hydrogen spillover, are comparatively discussed. The role of CNT–MO interfaces in governing hydrogen uptake and reversibility through the hydrogen spillover mechanism is critically discussed. Different synthesis approaches, such as chemical vapor deposition, sol–gel processing, ultrasonication, atomic layer deposition, and microwave-assisted synthesis, are systematically evaluated in relation to nanoparticle dispersion, oxide crystallinity, defect formation, and interfacial bonding. In addition, advanced characterization techniques used to establish structure–activity–performance relationships are critically analyzed. Different classes of metal oxides, including transition-metal oxides, alkaline-earth oxides, rare-earth oxides, and mixed-metal oxide systems, are comparatively assessed for hydrogen storage capacity, adsorption/desorption kinetics, cycling stability, and catalytic efficiency. The review demonstrates that hydrogen-storage performance in CNT–MO composites is strongly influenced by interfacial bonding, oxide thickness, nanoparticle morphology, defect density, oxygen vacancies, and metal oxide loading. Current limitations, including low hydrogen storage capacity, poor reversibility, nanoparticle agglomeration, limited reproducibility, and scalability challenges in industrial-scale production, are also discussed. Finally, future research directions focusing on interface engineering, defect tuning, oxygen-vacancy control, computational modeling, and scalable fabrication strategies are highlighted to accelerate the practical development of CNT–MO composites for hydrogen storage technologies.
Keywords
carbon nanotubes-metal oxides composite, hydrogen storage, interface engineering, spillover mechanism, structural characterization
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-25-2026
Article Number
190197
ISSN
09258388
Volume
1080
Publication Title
Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Science
Funding Information
The authors have extended their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia for funding this work through the Large Research Groups Program under grant number R.G.P.2/171/47.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Sewwandi, B., Basher, M. K., Nur-E-Alam, M., Amami, M., Haldhar, R., & Hossain, M. K. (2026). Synergistic interfaces in carbon nanotube–metal oxide composites: Unlocking next-generation hydrogen storage capabilities. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 1080, 190197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.190197