Hydrogen Storage Technologies

Chapter 7Carbonaceous Materials in Hydrogen Storage

R. Pedicini¹,^2,*, I. Gatto¹, M. F. Gatto¹,³,⁴ and E. Passalacqua¹

¹CNR-ITAE, Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano,” Messina, Italy

²Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

³Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ad Ambientali, and C.I.R.C.M.S.B., University of Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, Vill. S. Agata, 98166, Messina, Italy

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

Hydrogen storage is one of the main issues hindering the spread of fuel cell-based applications and, more generally, the advent of the so-called “hydrogen economy.” On the one hand, classical gas compression and liquefaction systems provide a relatively efficient and consolidated approach, but involve enormous security problems, and compression and refrigeration costs are high. On the other hand, there are several alternative approaches to hydrogen storage, essentially based on hydrogen chemisorption or physisorption processes on various support materials. In this chapter, an overview is presented of a proposed large and interesting class of materials, the carbonaceous materials, which are attractive candidates for hydrogen storage due to a combination of adsorption ability, high specific surface area, pore microstructure, and low-mass density. In general, it is possible to distinguish: a) materials consisting only of carbon atoms (carbon nanofibers, single- and multi-walled ...