Research report 2006 - Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung
Complex Hydrides as Hydrogen Storage Materials
Authors
Schüth, Ferdi; Felderhoff, Michael; Bogdanovic, Borislov
Departments
Heterogene Katalyse (Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schüth)
MPI für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Summary
If our energy system is transformed to a hydrogen economy, the storage of hydrogen is one of the biggest challenges. All presently available solutions are unsatisfactory with respect to a number of different points. Complex hydrides, especially sodium alanate, are in an advanced development stage as chemical storage alternative. After discovery and optimization of a catalyst, the rehydrogenation times could be reduced to only a few minutes. The concept of catalytic enhancement of the rates of de- and rehydrogenation seems to be generalizable, so that there is hope for the discovery of further technically useful complex hydrides.