Volumetrics of hydrogen storage by physical adsorption

Abstract

Physical adsorption remains a promising method for achieving fast, reversible hydrogen storage at both ambient and cryogenic conditions. Research in this area has recently shifted to focus primarily on the volumetric (H2 stored/delivered per volume) gains achieved within an adsorptive storage system over that of pure H2 compression; however, the methodology for estimating a volumetric stored or delivered amount requires several assumptions related to the ultimate packing of the adsorbent material into an actual storage system volume. In this work, we critically review the different assumptions commonly employed, and thereby categorize and compare the volumetric storage and delivery across numerous different porous materials including benchmark metal-organic frameworks, porous carbons, and zeolites. In several cases, there is a significant gain in both storage and delivery by the addition of an adsorbent to the high-pressure H2 storage system over that of pure compression, even at room temperature. Lightweight, low-density materials remain the optimal adsorbents at low temperature, while higher density, open metal-containing frameworks are necessary for high-density room temperature storage and delivery.