Hydrogen storage material almost meets DOE 2010 targets

Researchers in Greece report design of a new material that almost meets the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2010 goals for hydrogen storage. Details of the innovation are set to be revealed on the Oct. 8 issue of ACS' Nano Letters, a monthly journal.

In the new study, the researchers use computer modeling to design a hydrogen-storage structure consisting of parallel graphene sheets — layers of carbon just one atom thick —stabilised by vertical columns of carbon nanotubes.

They also added lithium ions to the material's design to enhance its storage capacity. The scientists' calculations show that their so-called "pillared graphene" could theoretically store up to 41 grams of hydrogen per liter, almost matching the DOE's target (45 grams of hydrogen per liter) for transportation applications.

"Experimentalists are challenged to fabricate this material and validate its storage capacity," the researchers note.

Source: Fuel Cell Today