For electrical power generation, fuel cells that efficiently convert hydrogen to electrical power can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. A fuel-cell-powered automobile is significantly more energy efficient than a comparable vehicle with an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel. PEM fuel cells represent a safe, quiet, high energy density, robust and environmentally desirable means of powering portable electronics if performance and cost are met.

However, one of the most difficult challenges is the hydrogen storage requirement. Liquid hydrogen storage is attractive because of its high storage density. However, hydrogen must be stored at –253 °C to keep it in liquid form, and getting it down to this temperature requires a lot of energy and expensive equipment. Gaseous storage also has its challenges. The compressed technique suffers from low volumetric efficiency and significant compression energy penalties. The very high pressures also pose potential safety problems. Hydrogen stored in solid form is in a safer state and can be stored within a tank at a lower pressure.

Ge Solartech has extensive experiences with designing, manufacturing and testing metal hydrides for related applications. This experience will enables us to efficiently design and produce advanced materials that can satisfy the high density hydrogen storage requirements.

A method for storing and delivering hydrogen gas is described. The method includes reacting a chemical hydride with water in the presence of a synergist. The synergist advances the extent of reaction of the chemical hydride with water to increase the yield of hydrogen production. The synergist reacts with byproducts formed in the reaction of the chemical hydride with water that would otherwise inhibit progress of the reaction. As a result, a greater fraction of hydrogen available from a chemical hydride is released as hydrogen gas.

 ---  United States Patent Application Publication, Pub. No. US2020/0223691 A1, Jul. 16,2020