Materials and manufacturing boost for hydrogen storage

It is claimed the researchers have, for the first time, created compounds made from mixtures of calcium hexaboride, strontium and barium hexaboride. They also have demonstrated that the compounds could be manufactured using combustion synthesis, a simple, low-cost manufacturing method.

The work is at the proof of concept stage and is part of a $1.2m project funded by the US National Science Foundation, a collaboration between UC San Diego (UCSD), Alfred University in New York State and the University of Nevada, Reno.

The researchers presented their work in March 2014 at the third International Symposium on Nanoscience and Nanomaterials in Mexico.

Storing hydrogen has become increasingly important, as hydrogen fuel cells become more popular power sources in industry and elsewhere. Hydrogen, however, is difficult to store as it tends to diffuse through the walls of pressurised tanks. It also needs to be compressed in order to occupy manageable amounts of space when stored.