Abstract
A hydrogen economy is needed, in order to resolve current environmental and energy-related problems. For the introduction of hydrogen as an important energy vector, sophisticated materials are required. This paper provides a brief overview of the subject, with a focus on hydrogen storage technologies for mobile applications. The unique properties of hydrogen are addressed, from which its advantages and challenges can be derived. Different hydrogen storage technologies are described and evaluated, including compression, liquefaction, and metal hydrides, as well as porous materials. This latter class of materials is outlined in more detail, explaining the physisorption interaction which leads to the adsorption of hydrogen molecules and discussing the material characteristics which are required for hydrogen storage application. Finally, a short survey of different porous materials is given which are currently investigated for hydrogen storage, including zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous polymers, aerogels, boron nitride materials, and activated carbon materials.
Highlights
The interaction is strong enough to enhance the amount of hydrogen stored in a given volume or to use cryogenic temperatures which are closer to ambient conditions than in the case of liquid hydrogen
Strong efforts have been made in order to reach the targets for hydrogen storage in mobile applications which were established by bodies like the DOE
The lion’s share of hydrogen vehicles is based on pressure vessels with compressed hydrogen. This technology may not be appropriate for reaching the ambitious ultimate targets, and security concerns exist over the high pressures involved
Summary
Today’s energy sector is accompanied by a number of environmental inconveniences. In order to overcome those problems, future energy concepts have to be put into practice. For the same time period, an overall increasing tendency can be observed, which suggests a relationship between both trends that could be something more than casual Another problem with natural and fossil energy resources is their limited availability. The usage of renewable energy sources leads to a number of new problems. Primary renewable energy sources are not efficient enough to be used in mobile applications, where space is limited and weight has to be low. Both of these problems can be solved by means of the so-called “hydrogen economy”
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