Developing a Novel Hydrogen Sponge with Ideal Binding Energy and High Surface Area for Practical Hydrogen Storage

Recipient Penn State University/PSU (PI: Mike Chung)

Abstract The project objective is to develop a new class of boron-containing polymers (B-polymer) with a network structure and an open "free volume" morphology, which can simultaneously exhibit three essential H2 adsorbent characteristics, including an ideal H2 binding energy range of 15-25 kJ/mol, a high specific surface area SSA>4000 m2/g, and a mass density >0.65 g/cm3. The resulting hydrogenphilic sorbents (H2 sponges) shall have the potential to meet the DOE storage targets with material a gravimetric capacity of 1.8 kWh/kg (5.5 wt.% H2) and volumetric capacity of 1.3 kWh/L (40g H2/L) under mild (temperature and pressure) storage conditions.