Supramolecular material capable of storing compressed hydrogen in a not too heavy manner

A team of chemists from the University of Hong Kong, Northwestern University, and Duke University has developed a supramolecular material that can be used to compress hydrogen for lightweight storage. In their study, published in the journal Chemistry of natureThe group used porous organic crystals to store hydrogen.

Hydrogen has been touted for many years as a clean energy source, but it is still not widely used due to storage issues: it takes up much more space than gasoline. That’s why researchers around the world are working to develop better compression techniques.

For this new study, the research team developed an approach that meets the U.S. Department of Energy’s goals: The first is to store at least 50 grams of hydrogen per liter of material used for its storage. The second is that it must not be too heavy, or more precisely, that the weight of hydrogen stored in a given material must be 6.5% of its total weight or more.

Efforts to achieve both goals have so far failed. But researchers say they have developed a material that can store hydrogen in a way that meets both goals.

The material is made of organic molecules created from sturdy crystals that have been interconnected in a honeycomb shape, with pores just the right size for hydrogen molecules. The hydrogen binds to the crystals, holding them in place.

The researchers point out that this interconnection allows for efficient and compact storage, resulting in a more stable material. It also reduces the porosity of materials made by others trying to achieve the same goals.

Tests on the material showed that it was capable of storing 53.7g of hydrogen per litre of material, with hydrogen accounting for 9.3% of the system’s total weight. One of the system’s major drawbacks is that it requires cryogenic cooling, which in commercial operation would likely be bulky and expensive.

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