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Inexpensive Hydrogen Storage: Propylene to Propane using Plasmonic Photocatalysis
Alison Carroll1,2, Parmeet Dhindsa1,2, Alexander Ahrens3,2
1Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
Nano Letters
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Propane serves as a cost-effective hydrogen storage medium. This study demonstrates efficient, mild-condition photocatalytic cycling between propylene and propane for hydrogen storage and release using a novel single-atom catalyst.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photocatalysis
- Hydrogen Storage
Background:
- Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) present an alternative to physical hydrogen storage.
- Propane is investigated as a low-cost, readily available LOHC candidate.
- Efficient catalytic processes are needed for reversible hydrogen storage using LOHCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate propane as a chemical hydrogen storage medium.
- To develop a photocatalytic system for the reversible storage and release of hydrogen using the propylene-propane cycle.
- To explore the use of a single-atom plasmonic photocatalyst for this process.
Main Methods:
- Ambient temperature and pressure hydrogenation of propylene using an Al@TiO2-Pt single-atom plasmonic photocatalyst.
- Illumination at 450 nm and 800 nm to study wavelength-dependent reactivity.
- Theoretical calculations to understand hot-carrier generation and reaction mechanisms.
Main Results:
- High reactivity toward propane production was observed under illumination at 450 nm and 800 nm.
- The photocatalyst efficiently activated both H2 dissociation and its incorporation into propylene.
- Successful demonstration of light-driven propane dehydrogenation for hydrogen release.
Conclusions:
- Photocatalytic cycling of propylene-propane for hydrogen storage and release is feasible under mild conditions.
- The Al@TiO2-Pt single-atom catalyst shows promise for efficient LOHC systems.
- Wavelength-dependent hot-carrier generation plays a crucial role in activating the hydrogenation steps.
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