Hydrogen storage in metal hydrides

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Sci. Am.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0280-118· OSTI ID:6306004

Reilly, J J; Sandrock, G D

The storage of hydrogen as a metal hydride is discussed. Properties of some representative hydrogen-storage mediums (MgH/sub 2/, Mg/sub 2/NiH/sub 4/, VH/sub 2/, FeTiH/sub 1/ /sub 95/, LaNi/sub 5/H/sub 7/, liquid hydrogen, and gaseous hydrogen) are compared. Magnesium hydride, the more promising of the two binary hydrides, is thought to be only a borderline possibility as a hydrogen-storage medium at present. Of the three ternary hydrides listed the leading contender is iron-titanium hydride. It's main advantage over lanthanum-pentanickel hydride is one of cost. All the metal hydrides listed have a higher hydrogen storage capacity than an equal volume of liquid or gaseous hydrogen has. Energy densities (watt-hours per kilogram) of various automotive power sources either already in existence or proposed are tabulated. Metal hydrides lag far behind gasoline in terms of energy density, but they are competitive with electric batteries in this respect.

• OSTI ID: 6306004
• Journal Information: Sci. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Sci. Am.; (United States) Vol. 242:2; ISSN SCAMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
295000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALLOYS
AUTOMOBILES
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN STORAGE
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON HYDRIDES
LANTHANUM ALLOYS
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM HYDRIDES
MAGNESIUM
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM HYDRIDES
METALS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL HYDRIDES
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STORAGE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM HYDRIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VANADIUM
VANADIUM COMPOUNDS
VANADIUM HYDRIDES
VEHICLES