Carbon-Based Sorbents for Hydrogen Storage: Challenges and Sustainability at Operating Conditions for Renewable Energy

It is estimated that all fossil fuels will be depleted by 2060 if we continue to use them at the present rate. Therefore, there is an unmet need for an alternative source of energy with high calorific value. In this regard, hydrogen is considered the best alternative renewable fuel that could be used in practical conditions. Accordingly, researchers are looking for an ideal hydrogen storage system under ambient conditions for feasible applications. In many respects, carbon-based sorbents have emerged as the best possible hydrogen storage media. These carbon-based sorbents are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and readily available. In this Review, the present status of carbon-based materials in promoting solid-state hydrogen storage technologies at the operating temperature and pressure was reported. Experimental studies have shown that some carbon-based materials such as mesoporous graphene and doped carbon nanotubes may have hydrogen storage uptake of 3-7 wt %, while some theoretical studies have predicted up to 13.79 wt % of hydrogen uptake at ambient conditions. Also, it was found that different methods used for carbon materials synthesis played a vital role in hydrogen storage performance. Eventually, this Review will be helpful to the scientific community for finding the competent material and methodology to investigate the existing hydrogen uptake issues at operating conditions.

Automated summary

This article discusses the advantages of carbon-based sorbents as hydrogen storage media, highlighting their low cost, environmental friendliness, and availability. It also introduces the application status of some carbon-based materials in solid-state hydrogen storage technology, as well as the predictions of hydrogen uptake performance by some experimental and theoretical studies and the impact of carbon material synthesis methods on their performance.