Hydrogen storage-learning from nature: The air clathrate hydrate in polar ice sheets

Abstract

Hydrogen storage poses a major challenge to mobile, stationary, and portable energy in better serving a low-carbon economy and sustainable future of humankind. Existing hydrogen storage methods are typical of low storage capacity, complicated storage technology, high capital cost, great storage risk, and excess carbon emissions. Here, the hydrogen clathrate hydrate in powdered-ice Ih (HCHinIh) is empirically synthesized at relatively lower pressures from ∼6.3–12.9 MPa and relatively higher temperatures from ∼243–273 K for innovative hydrogen storage, building on lessons from the enclathration of the air clathrate hydrates that naturally formed in polar ice sheets. As a result, the enclathration for HCHinIh is forced by the dynamical evolution of bubbles under the quasi-densification of powdered-ice Ih. In addition, the estimated hydrogen storage capacity of 3.44 wt% for the HCHinIh is comparable to, or even far higher than those from the existential hydrogen storage technologies, and the potential to be improved by upgrading the designed synthesis apparatus for the HCHinIh. Thus, this work paves a novel route by mimicking Nature to advance hydrogen storage via synthesizing the HCHinIh in achieving higher storage capacity, simpler storage technology, lower capital cost, less storage risk, as well as net zero-carbon emissions.