Hydrogen: a future energy vector for sustainable development

The rapid exhaustion of fossil fuel reserves and the adverse effects of climate change have attracted global attention and pose serious threats to mankind. The emergence of new energy technologies based on new materials discovery is crucial if the world is to arrest the adverse effects of climate change and secure the global energy security based on sustainable and renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is thought to be the solution as a clean and renewable future energy vector. The use of hydrogen in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is likely to be at the centre of power generation for stationary and mobile applications. This review describes the present state of contemporary research on modes of hydrogen generation and storage on the basis of research carried out during the last decade. The article focuses particularly on the key aspects of fuel cells and materials based on the physical and chemical storage of hydrogen. A high storage density together with favourable sorption thermodynamics and kinetics and prolonged cycleability and lifetime are the key requirements for a practical storage material. This review emphasizes both how the engineering of fuel cells and our understanding of solid state hydrogen storages impact on the future of hydrogen storage research and the prospects for the implementation of the hydrogen economy.