Short communication
José M Bellosta von Colbe
Abstract
The use of hydrogen as an energy vector has been under discussion for a long time. At present, however, due to the twin challenges of air pollution and climate change, hydrogen is considered more and more as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, as a complement to energy storage in batteries and together with renewable energy generation. Storing hydrogen is, however, a challenge in itself, since even under pressures of 700 bar or liquefied at cryogenic temperatures, it still takes up a volume several times greater than traditional liquid fuels. An alternative is the use of metal or complex hydrides, which are solid compounds or mixtures capable of storing between 1.2 and 11 % hydrogen in weight. In the best cases, the materials can store double the amount of hydrogen in the same space as liquid hydrogen. In this Keynote Lecture, the principles, types and applications of hydrides for hydrogen storage and other applications will be shown.