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Significant improvements over currently available hydrogen storage technologies are required if hydrogen is to become a viable energy carrier. Compact, lightweight carbon adsorbant materials have become interesting for possible use in a hydrogen storage system. Of particular interest are the "engineered" nanostructured carbons such as carbon single-wall and multi-wall nanotubes (SWNTs and MWNTs) that can store significant amounts of hydrogen at room temperature. In 1997 NREL researchers demonstrated that SWNTs are capable of storing hydrogen in the 5-10 wt% range. More recent work at NREL
has shown that SWNTs can adsorb up to 8 wt% hydrogen when catalytic metal species are present. Current research is focusing on determining and advancing the hydrogen storage properties of SWNTs and other nanostructured carbon materials such as nanohorns, MWNTs, and MOFs.
In April 2004, DOE announced three new Centers of Excellence in the area of hydrogen storage, all designed to leverage the expertise of the DOE national laboratories in partnership with academia and industry. NREL assists DOE in coordinating the Center of Excellence for Carbon-Based Hydrogen Storage, with input from a Steering Committee of representatives from NREL, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Rice University. The Center's near-term goals are to accelerate R&D of carbon-based hydrogen storage materials and create a fast-moving, team-interactive environment.
Recent presentations and papers:
Contact: Mike Heben (303) 384-6641
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