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Hydrogen storage in carbon nanotubes.

M Hirscher¹, M Becher

¹Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Stuttgart, Germany.

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

|August 12, 2003

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Carbon nanostructures show limited potential for storing enough hydrogen for automotive applications. Current research suggests reported high capacities are unlikely under moderate conditions, casting doubt on their viability.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemical Engineering
Nanotechnology

Background:

Carbon nanostructures, particularly carbon nanotubes, were investigated for hydrogen storage following their discovery.
Early experiments reported high hydrogen storage capacities, exceeding benchmarks for automotive applications (6.5 wt%).
This spurred significant research into hydrogen storage within various carbon nanostructures.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of hydrogen storage in carbon nanostructures.
To critically evaluate experimental results and theoretical calculations regarding storage capacities.
To assess the feasibility of carbon nanostructures for practical hydrogen storage, especially for automotive use.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental data from diverse studies on carbon nanostructures.

Related Experiment Videos

Analysis of theoretical calculations, including physisorption and chemisorption models.

Examination of cross-laboratory validation and recent controversies surrounding key findings.

Main Results:

Experimental data on hydrogen storage capacities exhibit extreme scatter across different methods and nanostructures.
Physisorption models fail to explain high storage capacities at ambient temperatures.
Chemisorption requires high temperatures for hydrogen release, unsuitable for applications.
Recent findings and cross-laboratory checks cast serious doubt on previously reported high capacities, particularly for carbon nanofibers.

Conclusions:

It is increasingly unlikely that carbon nanostructures can achieve the required hydrogen storage densities for automotive applications at moderate pressures and room temperature.
Significant challenges remain in reconciling experimental observations with theoretical predictions.
Further research is needed to understand the fundamental mechanisms and limitations of hydrogen storage in these materials.