Nanomaterials have attracted great interest in recent years because of the unusual mechanical, electrical, electronic, optical, magnetic and surface properties. The high surface/volume ratio of these materials has significant implications with respect to energy storage. Both the high surface area and the opportunity for nanomaterial consolidation are key attributes of this new class of materials for hydrogen storage devices. Nanostructured systems including carbon nanotubes, nano-magnesium based hydrides, complex hydride/carbon nanocomposites, boron nitride nanotubes, nanotubes, alanates, polymer nanocomposites, and metal organic frameworks are considered to be potential candidates for storing large quantities of hydrogen. Recent investigations have shown that nanoscale materials may offer advantages if certain physical and chemical effects related to the nanoscale can be used efficiently. The present review focuses the application of nanostructured materials for storing atomic or molecular hydrogen. The synergistic effects of nanocrystalinity and nanocatalyst doping on the metal or complex hydrides for improving the thermodynamics and hydrogen reaction kinetics are discussed. In addition, various carbonaceous nanomaterials and novel sorbent systems (e.g. carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, nanofibers, polyaniline nanospheres and metal organic frameworks etc.) and their hydrogen storage characteristics are outlined.

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Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Storage Applications: A Review

Engineering the Mg–Mg2Ni eutectic transformation to produce improved hydrogen storage alloys

Experimental investigation of hydrogen storage in single walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with borane

A comparative study of the role of additive in the MgH2 vs. the LiBH4-MgH2 hydrogen storage system

Hydrogen is a clean fuel as it produces only water as a by-product and there is no emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases. Storage of hydrogen is one of the main issues in exploiting it as an economical fuel. Several intermetallic compounds and alloys absorb and desorb hydrogen at moderate temperature and pressure. This class of materials, known as metal hydrides, are being extensively studied for their hydrogen storage capacity, reversibility, kinetics and cyclic stability. Metal hydrides find applications in Ni–MH (metal hydride) batteries, on-board energy supply, hydrogen isotope separation, gas purification, heat pumps, sensors and actuators. It is also of fundamental interest to study the interaction of hydrogen with various materials and the changes in their physico-chemical properties.

S. Boily

Papers

Nanocrystalline materials for hydrogen storage