Adsorption Storage
Beside pressure gas and liquid gas storage there are other methods for the storage of hydrogen as well.
Metal hydride storage
This storage technology uses certain metal alloys which are storing hydrogen like a sponge becoming saturated with water. The hydrogen is adsorbed by the metal thus building metal hydrides.
If a metal hydride is "filled" with hydrogen it emits heat. To regain the hydrogen heat must be supplied.
Referring to the volume metal hydride storage has a very high storage capacity. Unfortunately those storages are quite heavy and therefore they can not be used in mobile applications. In addition they are very expensive because of the high costs of materials.
With regard to handling and safety there are advantages in the use of metal hydride tanks. Almost all of them operate at normal pressures, there are no losses and they effect a cleaning of the hydrogen. Hydrogen is released by the supply of heat and therefore the hydrogen remains bonded in case the tank is damaged.
In submarines this type of storage is in commercial use today.
Carbon Nanotubes
This material on carbon base may revolutionise the technology of storage for hydrogen one day. Some years ago it has been discovered that large amounts of hydrogen can be stored in tube-shaped microscopically small graphite-structures.
Meanwhile many groups are doing research on the storage technology world-wide. But up to now the reports on the storage capacity are differing very much.
Independent from each other several groups proved that this method of storage is working in principle and that it has a high potential. We can really look forward to the scientific and technical advances.
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