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A hydrogen storage system is provided which will not substantially degrade over time. Each of a plurality of storage cells comprises a screen coated with a ceramic material which will allow passage of hydrogen, but prevent passage of submicron particles of a hydridable material such as LaNi 5 . Char

A hydrogen storage system is provided which will not substantially degrade over time. Each of a plurality of storage cells comprises a screen coated with a ceramic material which will allow passage of hydrogen, but prevent passage of submicron particles of a hydridable material such as LaNi 5 . Charging and discharging of each cell may be accomplished by applying an electrical current to the screen material forming each cell.

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1. In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: a membrane structure generally cylindrical in shape and defining a cylindrical cavity adapted to accepting a volume of hydridable material therein, and comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so t

1. In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: a membrane structure generally cylindrical in shape and defining a cylindrical cavity adapted to accepting a volume of hydridable material therein, and comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so that said membrane structure is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material said coating means being a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound; and means for plugging said cylindrical membrane structure opposingly disposed and fixedly attached at each end of said cylindrical membrane structure so that said cylindrical cavity is completely enclosed. 2. In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane means and for sealing at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes and defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of a hydridable material therein. 3. In a storage system for storing hydrogen, a storage cell comprising; a membrane structure, said membrane structure being formed in a general U-shape about a central axis and comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that said structure is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, said cavity for accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein. 4. A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; and means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally cylindrical membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material said coating means being a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound; and means for plugging said cylindrical membrane structure opposingly disposed and fixedly attached at each end of said cylindrical membrane structure so that a cavity defined by said cylindrical structure is completely enclosed. 5. A storage system for storing hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane structures, and being sealed to a portion of at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of hydridable material therein. 6. A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally U-shaped membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, the cavity accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein. 7. In a storage system as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein each storage cell further comprises an electrical connection means for conducting an electrical current to said membrane structure so that hydrogen gas releasably stored as a hydride in the hydridable material is liberated and permeated through said membrane structure. 8. In a storage system as recited in claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the enclosing means comprises a first means for charging the cells with hydrogen gas and a second means for discharging hydrogen gas from the cells. 9. In a storage system as recited by claim 7 wherein the screen means of said membrane structure is a #18 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy. 10. In a storage system as recited by claim 7 wherein the screen means of said membrane structure is a #30 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy. 11. In a storage system as recited in claims 2 or 3, wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution. 12. In a storage system as recited in claim 11, wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises a powder containing aluminum; aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound. 13. In a storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein the wire mesh screen is constructed from about 0.005-0.016 inch diameter circular wire. 14. In a storage system as recited in claims 2, 3, 5 or 6, wherein the gasket means comprises an asbestos gasket. 15. In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means comprises a plurality of metal plugs. 16. In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means comprises a plurality of ceramic material plugs. 17. In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plug means comprises a plurality of ceramic coated metal screen composite material plugs. 18. In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical membrane structure is corrugated. 19. In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means includes at least one plug having an opening for adding and removing the hydridable material enclosed within the cylindrical cavity. 20. In a storage system as recited in claim 19, wherein the opening is defined by a threaded female member fixedly attached to said plug and a removably threaded male member communicable with said female member. 21. In a storage system as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the hydridable material is LaNi 5 or Fe/Ti alloy. 22. In a storage system as recited in claim 7, wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution. 23. In a storage system as recited in claim 22, wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound. 24. A method of releasably storing hydrogen gas in a system comprising a plurality of enclosed storage cells, comprising the steps of; (a) charging the system with hydrogen gas so that the gas permeates through a membrane structure of each storage cell, the membrane structure comprising an electrically resistive wire mesh screen coated with a ceramic material; (b) contacting the hydrogen gas with a hydridable material enclosed within each storage cell so that the hydrogen gas is stored therein in the form of a hydride; (c) supplying an electrical current to the membrane structure to release the hydrogen gas from the hydridable material; and (d) discharging the hydrogen gas formed in step (c) so that the gas permeates through the membrane structure of each storage cell without the submicron powders of the hydridable material permeating the membrane structure. 25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the hydridable material is LaNi 5 or Fe/Ti alloy. 26. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the ceramic material comprises a binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum; aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound. 27. A membrane that permits hydrogen gas to permeate therethrough but does not permit submicron particles of a hydridable material to permeate therethrough comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that the membrane is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to submicron powders of hydridable material wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution at 1000° F., the binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound. 28. A membrane as recited in claim 27 wherein the screen means is a #18 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy. 29. A membrane as recited in claim 27 wherein the screen means is a #30 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy. 30. A method of producing a membrane that is permeable to hydrogen gas but is impermeable to submicron particles of a hydridable material comprising the steps of; (a) coating an electrically-resistive wire mesh screen with an aqueous binder solution; and (b) firing the screen coated according to step (a) to obtain a ceramic material that is permeable to hydrogen gas but impermeable to submicron particles of a hydridable material. 31. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein step (b) is practiced at about 1000° F. 32. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the screen is a #18 mesh screen. 33. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the screen is a #30 mesh screen. 34. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and a ceramic amine compound. 35. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises an alumina powder having a crystal structure corresponding to that of corundum; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound.