Hydrogen storage
The Hydrogen Storage Group is renowned as one of the leading subgroups of the Renewable Energy Laboratory in research on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), biomass-derived activated carbons, metal hydrides, and alanates. It specializes in hydrogen storage materials research using a variety of versatile characterization techniques, such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, and XPS. There also are two powerful techniques for analyzing the properties of storage materials: the BET system, which studies surface area and pore size distribution, and the High-Pressure Volumetric Analyzer (HPVA), which evaluates the materials for gas storage capacities under different conditions.
Research team
  • Dr. Aitkazy Kaisha
    Senior Researcher, Group leader
    Education
    PhD (2023) Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland
    MSc (2015) Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
    BSc (2010) Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Research Area
    Materials research, metal oxides, amorphous transparent conducting oxides (a-TCO, a-ZTO, a-IGZO), insulators (TiO2 and SiO2, etc.), thin film physics, ultrathin films, Nanotechnology, Solid State Physics, Physical Chemistry and defect chemistry, solid-state, and biomass-based activated carbon materials for hydrogen storage.

    Specialties
    Thin film deposition, X-ray spectroscopy (XPS), XRD and XRR systems, Four-Probe Method, Hall effect systems, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Magnetron system (Reactive and Nonreactive), SEM, AFM, BET and PCT systems, and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems development.
  • Dr. Tileuberdi Nurbol
    Education
    Bachelor's degree in Geodesy and Cartography (2010) - Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
    Master's degree in Cartography (2014) - Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I. Satpayev
    PhD in Petroleum Engineering (2017) - Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I. Satpayev
  • Madina Kalibek
    PhD student, Nazarbayev University
    Education
    PhD (2023 - current) Nazarbayev University, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Astana.
    M.Sc. (2020 - 2022) Nazarbayev University, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Astana.
    BSc (2016 - 2020) Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, School of Chemical Technology of Organic Substances, Almaty.

    Research area
    Hydrogen Storage, Ti-based alloys, Biomass-derived Activated Carbons, and Composites.

    Specialties
    Synthesis of materials, XRD, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, BET, and PCT measurements.
  • Botakoz Suleimenova
    PhD student, Nazarbayev University
    Education
    PhD (2022 - Current) - Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
    Master of Science in Chemistry (2017) - Tokai University, Japan
    Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemistry (2014) - L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan

    Research Area
    Hydrogen storage, metal-organic frameworks, metal hydrides, polymers, and composites.

    Specialties
    Analytical Chemistry, RDF, Coal, Fluidized Bed Combustion
  • Azat Mahmet
    PhD student, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
    Education
    (09.2018 – 10.2022) PhD in Chemistry at Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyev (Astana)
    (09.2015 – 10.2017) Master in Reservoir Engineering at the University of Lorraine (Nancy), France
    (09.2009 – 07.2015) BSc and Master Diploma in Chemical Engineering (Major: Chemical Technology of Organic Substances), National Technical University of Kazakhstan named after K.I. Satpaev (Almaty)

    Research Interests
    Synthetic Methodology • Heterocyclic Chemistry • Medicinal Chemistry • Multicomponent Reactions • Transition Metal Catalysis • Preparation and Characterization of Supported Catalysts • Organometallic Chemistry • Organic Electrochemistry, Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Chemical Technology of Organic Substances, Material science. The design and development of MOFs and carbon-based materials for hydrogen storage. Multidisciplinary approach, combining insights from chemistry and engineering.

    Specialties
    NMR Spectroscopy • Mass Spectrometry • X-ray crystallography• Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy • Electrolysis • Microwave • Schlenk Line Techniques • Glove Box • Photoshop • Microsoft Office • SKUA Gocad • SLB Petrel •SLB Eclipse • MestReNova • MatLab
  • Aigerim Ospanova
    PhD student, Nazarbayev University
    Education
    PhD (2023 - current) Nazarbayev University, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Astana.
    MSc (2021 - 2023) Nazarbayev University, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Astana.
    BSc (2017 - 2021) Kazakh National Technical Research University named after K.I. Satpaev, Almaty.

    Research area
    Hydrogen storage, metal-organic frameworks, metal hydrides, polymers, and composites.

    Specialties
    X-ray techniques, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, BET and PCT measurements, and electrospinning.
  • Talgat Orazbek
    Research Assistant
    Education
    M.Sc. (2021-2023) - Dalian University of Technology, China
    BSc (2015 - 2019) - Dalian University of Technology, China

    Research area
    Hydrogen Storage Materials: Research on hydrogen storage technologies using adsorption-based materials to improve efficiency and capacity.

    Specialties
    Material Synthesis and Characterization: Expertise in the preparation of porous materials, including activated carbon and MOFs, using thermal treatment and other fabrication techniques. Skilled in analyzing their structural and adsorption properties.
    Experimental Techniques: Proficient in BET surface area analysis, gas adsorption isotherm measurements, XRD, FTIR, and other characterization methods for material performance assessment.
  • Raushan Soltan
    Research Assistants
    Education
    Master’s Degree in Technical Physics (Physical Engineering) (2011-2013) - K.I. Satpaev KazNUT.
    Bachelor's Degree in Technical Physics (Physical Engineering) (2007-2011) - K.I. Satpaev KazNUT.

    Research area
    Hydrogen Storage, Carbon Materials, Material Science
  • Ayakoz Bakytbek
    Research Assistants
    Education
    Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2024) — Karaganda Buketov University, Kazakhstan

    Research area
    Hydrogen storage, metal-organic frameworks, metal hydrides, polymers, and composites.

Publications
  • Madina Kalibek, Aigerim Ospanova, Botakoz Suleimenova, Raushan Soltan, Talgat Orazbek, Azat Makhmet, Khadichakhan Rafikova, Nurxat Nuraje. “Solid-state hydrogen storage materials”, Discover Nano (Nanoscale Research Letters). 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-04137-y

Funded projects
"Advancement of the Green Energy: Foundational Research of Solar Fuel Technologies for Sustainable Production and Advanced Storage"
Project PI: Nurxat Nuraje
Duration: 2023 - 2025