Current challenges in the utilization of hydrogen energy-a focused review on the issue of hydrogen-induced damage and embrittlement

Abstract

The development of reliable and longevous infrastructures and structural components is the key for the implementation of a hydrogen economy that is currently enjoying unprecedented political and research momentum due to the globally strong demand for clean energy. This is, however, strongly impeded by the risk and concerns of hydrogen embrittlement (or hydrogen-induced degradation in mechanical properties) that generally exists in almost all metallic materials. Structural components and materials operated in the hydrogen production-transport-storage-usage chain can be subjected to a very wide range of temperature, environmental and loading scenarios, which will essentially trigger different hydrogen embrittlement responses and even different embrittling mechanisms. It is thus important to have a systematic assessment and discussion of hydrogen embrittlement behavior of different materials at different testing conditions, which is the focus of the presented review. Here we cover the typical materials (mainly metallic materials) that have been used or planned to be used in the fields of hydrogen energy. We first briefly summarize the current understanding of fundamental hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms in metallic materials and the research progress in recent years. Then we analyze and discuss the hydrogen -induced damage phenomenon in typical materials used in the field of high-pressure hydrogen transport and storage. In addition to room-temperature hydrogen embrittlement behavior, the hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon of some alloys at elevated and cryogenic temperatures is also reviewed, with the aim to provide some guidelines of material selection and design in developing fields such as hydrogen gas turbines and long-flight-duration hydrogen powered aircraft. Finally, the current challenges in the study of hydrogen embrittlement are identified and discussed to guide future research efforts.