A comparison of hydrogen storage in activated carbons and a metal-organic framework (MOF-5)

A hydrogen storage study, on gravimetric and volumetric bases, has been carried out on three adsorbents having similar adsorption capacities: two activated carbons and a metal organic framework (MOF-5). These three samples have similar hydrogen storage on a gravimetric basis. However, expressed on a volumetric basis, both AC have higher hydrogen storage than MOF-5. Wrong conclusions could be avoided, when comparing these two types of adsorbents, if their hydrogen storage data were reported on a volumetric basis, using reliable measurable densities. Tap or packing densities are the most suitable. Crystal density, mostly used for reporting hydrogen storage on MOF, gives unrealistically high volumetric storage values. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.