Nano-Structures Hint at Hydrogen Storage Breakthrough

One of the most efficient storage mediums for hydrogen is sodium borohydride. But the material wasn't practical because it can release hydrogen but not reabsorb it.

Now researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia say the storage properties of such materials can be made reversible by encasing particles smaller than 30 nanometers inside nickel nanostructures.

The tiny core-shell structures also sharply lower the temperature at which the borohydride begins to release hydrogen from more than 500 C for bulk material to as little as 50 C for the nanostructures.

The researchers say they show that at 350 C the core-shell architecture can absorb or release 80% of its potential storage capacity in less than 60 minutes. Full capacity can be achieved within five hours, according to the team.

The team believes its work is the first to show that borohydrides could become a viable fuel storage material for hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The group reports its results in the current issue of ACS Nano.