Fast synthesis method and phase diagram of hydrogen clathrate hydrate

We report a very fast method for hydrogen clathrate production. The formation of hydrogen clathrate from H-2 gas and ice-Ih at 77-273 K occurs at least 100 times faster compared to the reaction with water. This effect is probably the result of a partial penetration of hydrogen into the ice-Ih body, which favors clathrate formation. With the ice method, the ice-Ih/48H(2)*136H(2)O system can quickly trap and release up to 3.77 mass % of hydrogen, which gives it an advantage over other chemical-bonding hydrogen storage technologies. New data on the hydrogen-water phase diagram are presented and discussed. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.