Nanoporous adsorbents for hydrogen storage

Abstract Hydrogen storage in absorbents as activated carbons has been rarely investigated; however, about 25 years ago, the development of new nanomaterials, initiated by Iijima’s discovery carbon microtubules, started hopes. Unfortunately, initial results on high hydrogen uptake nanotubes at ambient conditions could not be independently reproduced; cryogenic conditions, these novel nanomaterials just behaved with an proportional to surface area. Shortly after, coordination polymers permanent porosity opened a route nanoporous materials ultra-high internal surfaces. Mainly metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracting great deal attention recent years, very gravimetric capacities can achieved 77 K. Cryogenic physisorption molecules will safely operate low pressures, is fully reversible, and possesses fast kinetics. This mini-review shows rapid this field over past years. Exemplarily, main focus obtained laboratory Stuttgart their connection Applied Physics A.