Novel light-weight metal hydrides for hydrogen storage applications

One major unsolved problem for the introduction of hydrogen into the global energy system is effective storage of hydrogen. This proposal addresses hydrogen storage in aluminium hydride and novel boron-based hydrides. Both groups of materials have hydroge n contents in the range of 10 wt% H. Recent research has shown the potential for on-board vehicular hydrogen storage in AlH3, but with off-board regeneration. A few boron-based hydrides have appropriate thermodynamics for reversible on-board storage, but significant kinetics barriers give too slow hydrogen exchange. Key challenges addressed are (i) to develop new simple methods for the regeneration of AlH3; (ii) to modify the structures to stabilize AlH3; (iii) develop and characterize boron-based nanocom posites; and (iv) study effects of catalysts in boron-based hydrides. A breakthrough will be very important for vehicle applications. The project is a collaboration between Institutt for Energiteknikk (IFE), Norway, University of Oslo (UiO), Forschungszen trum Karlsruhe (FZK), Germany and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), USA, all institutions with significant expertise in this field. IFE, FZK and SRNL will focus on synthesis and characterisation of the materials while the activities at UiO will b e related to modelling. The project will involve extensive international collaboration.