Polysilanes: The grail for a highly-neglected hydrogen storage source

Abstract

The hydrogen economy is a proposed system of delivering energy using hydrogen for engines and fuel cells. Otherwise, hydrogen, in comparison to hydrocarbons, is quite difficult to store or transport with current technology since it possesses a good energy density by weight, but a poor energy density by volume requiring a large tank to store at high pressure and low temperature. In this context, polysilanes constitute a neglected hydrogen storage source. We present a general catalyzed environmentally friendly, rapid and safe hydrogen production from organosilane hydrogen carriers' derivatives by reacting with water. The reaction is successful with a wide range of silane derivatives in quantitative yield of H2 gas and could be used for daily life applications due to its modest cost, easy approach for implementing and limitation of greenhouse gas liberation.