Hydrogen-based Materials for Energy Storage: a guide to the current state of the field

A new Review brings together the current knowledge on hydrogen-based materials for energy storage and conversion. Covering applications from hydrogen storage and transport to batteries and thermal energy storage, the paper provides scientists across disciplines with a comprehensive point of reference. Michael Hirscher from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research is the corresponding author.

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, but its practical use depends strongly on the materials used to store, transport and compress it. In the Review Hydrogen-based materials for energy storage and conversion, published in Nature Reviews Clean Technology, an international team examines the present status of the most important material concepts and their potential applications.

The paper covers a remarkably broad spectrum. It discusses the reversible adsorption of hydrogen in nanoporous materials, high-density storage in metal and complex hydrides, and the use of liquid organic hydrogen carriers and ammonia for long-distance transport. It also examines metal-hydride compressors, which can generate the high pressures required for compressed-gas storage without the moving parts used in conventional mechanical compressors.

Hydrogen-based materials also have applications beyond storing hydrogen itself. Hydrides are already used in nickel–metal hydride batteries and could play a role in future solid-state batteries as well as emerging magnesium- and calcium-based battery technologies. Their high heat-storage capacity also makes metal hydrides promising materials for storing industrial waste heat and thermal energy from concentrated solar power.

Crucially, this is not a research paper presenting one individual discovery. It is a comprehensive Review that assesses technologies at very different stages of development—from established commercial applications to concepts that still require substantial fundamental and applied research. By bringing these areas together, the authors offer a consolidated overview for materials scientists, chemists, physicists, engineers and energy researchers who need to understand the current state of the field.

The breadth of the article is reflected in its authorship: 33 researchers contributed to the discussion, review and editing of the manuscript. The work also draws on the international activities of the IEA Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme’s Task 40 on energy storage and conversion based on hydrogen. Michael Hirscher led Task 40 as Task Manager and represents the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research among the participating institutions.