Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Material for Low-Temperature Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen storage methods face challenges such as low storage capacity, stability issues at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and difficulty in adsorbing and desorbing hydrogen efficiently at practical temperatures and pressures, with existing materials often requiring high temperatures or pressures for hydrogen release.
Innovation Solution
Development of solid-state hydrogen storage materials comprising transition metal atoms bonded to elements from period 2 of the periodic table, which form stable hydrogenated states capable of adsorbing and desorbing hydrogen at temperatures below 200°C and pressures of 1 atm or less, achieving over 6.5% hydrogen weight percentage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal hydrides are used for solid state hydrogen storage, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but hydrogen release requires high temperatures above 600°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of metal hydrides by incorporating specific alloying elements (such as Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, or Te) to change the thermodynamic properties of the hydrogen storage material. This allows the material to release hydrogen at practical temperatures below 200°C while maintaining adequate storage capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and release temperature.
2Temperature
If aluminum hydrides with alkali metals are used, then hydrogen release occurs at practical temperatures below 200°C, but weight percentage of hydrogen adsorption is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite hydrogen storage materials by combining metal hydrides with specific alloying elements in defined compositional ranges. This composite approach allows the material to achieve both practical release temperatures below 200°C and improved hydrogen storage capacity exceeding 6.5 wt%, simultaneously addressing both requirements that were previously contradictory.
3Device complexity
If hydrogen is stored as compressed gas, then storage simplicity is maintained, but storage capacity is limited to about 10% hydrogen by weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs solid state hydrogen storage materials that can be repeatedly charged and discharged without significant degradation. These materials provide high hydrogen storage capacity (over 6.5 wt%) in a compact form factor, replacing the need for large compressed gas tanks while maintaining system simplicity and enabling practical portable applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed hydrogen storage materials maintain stability at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, efficiently adsorbing and desorbing hydrogen, achieving high weight percentage storage and facilitating safe and efficient hydrogen release.
Implementation Method 1
Each hydrogen storage molecular unit comprises of two transition metal atoms bonded to two elements from period 2 of the periodic table
Implementation Method 2
metal hydrides have been discovered as viable solid state hydrogen storage materials. However, metal hydrides typically absorb atomic hydrogen by forming covalent sigma bonds
Implementation Method 3
hydrogen storage materials are provided that may be capable of a hydrogenated state and dehydrogenated state
Data Source
AI summary
Hydrogen storage materials are provided that may be capable of a hydrogenated state and dehydrogenated state. The hydrogen storage material comprises a plurality of hydrogen storage molecular units. Each hydrogen storage molecular unit comprises a transition metal bonded to one or more elements from period 2 of the periodic table, wherein the hydrogen storage material includes at least 6.5% molecular hydrogen by weight when in the hydrogenated state and is stable at temperatures below about 200° C. and at pressures of about 1 atm and below. The hydrogen storage materials may be used in conjunction with fuel cells in portable electronic devices.