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How to Store Hydrogen as Metal Hydrides

Scientists have identified hydrogen as a potential energy source of the future to replace fossil fuel sources. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and produces a large amount of energy when consumed. There are three ways to store hydrogen, which are cryogenic storage of liquid hydrogen, storage under high pressure for gaseous hydrogen and storage as a metal hydride adsorbed to a metal alloy. The newest mechanism of storage of large amounts of hydrogen gas is using metal alloys to absorb the hydrogen. This method of storage is reversible.

Things You'll Need

Metal alloy
Pressure chamber
Hydrogen source

Instructions

- 1
  Select a metal alloy that has the desired physical and chemical properties for your application. Many alloys have the ability to absorb hydrogen to form metal hydrides. These hydrides absorb and release hydrogen based on the temperature and pressure of the alloy. The metal hydrides commonly in use are Mg2Ni, FeTi and LaNi5. The alloy containing magnesium and the one containing iron have the highest density of hydride per unit weight of the alloy. Current research is investigating the use of powdered alloys to generate faster and more complete charging of the alloys with hydrogen.
- 2
  Place the metal alloy in a pressure chamber and pressurize the chamber with hydrogen gas. Exposure to the hydrogen-enriched atmosphere in the pressure chamber causes the alloy to absorb hydrogen atoms into the surface. Over time, the continued exposure will allow the hydrogen atoms to migrate deeper into alloy and increase the amount of hydrogen storage.
- 3
  Set the temperature and pressure of the pressure chamber to the optimum temperature and pressure for the absorption of hydrogen for the alloy you have selected to use. Each alloy has different storage capacities, release temperatures and pressures and absorption temperatures and pressures.

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