초록 ▼

A hydrogen storage medium is provided, where the medium is comprised of boron oxide and closely related compounds such as orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, and disodium borohydrate. The medium is substantially an amorphous glassy network, albeit with local regions of order, pores

A hydrogen storage medium is provided, where the medium is comprised of boron oxide and closely related compounds such as orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, and disodium borohydrate. The medium is substantially an amorphous glassy network, albeit with local regions of order, pores, and networks that provide surface area. Hydrogen is adsorbed by the medium with a heat of adsorption of about 9 kJ/mol to about 13 kJ/mol, a value which is higher than that of the heat of adsorption of hydrogen on carbon. The value for the heat of adsorption of hydrogen on the inventive storage medium is provided by computation, and corroborated by experimental observation. The higher heat of adsorption of the medium provides for operation at temperatures higher temperatures higher than those provided by carbon. Further provided are methods by which the storage medium can be prepared in such a form so as to permit high capacity hydrogen storage, as well as an apparatus, with the inventive medium disposed therein, for storing hydrogen.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A medium for storing hydrogen comprising a boron oxide hydrates of the general formula B2O 3.nH2O, wherein n is not less than one, admixed with at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Li2O, MgO, Na 2O, K2O, BeO, CaO, and SrO. 2. The medium for storing hydrogen as des

We claim: 1. A medium for storing hydrogen comprising a boron oxide hydrates of the general formula B2O 3.nH2O, wherein n is not less than one, admixed with at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Li2O, MgO, Na 2O, K2O, BeO, CaO, and SrO. 2. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the boron oxide hydrate is selected from the group consisting of orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, and disodium borohydrate. 3. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of H3PO 4, SiO2, and Al 2O3. 4. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium is configured to store hydrogen substantially by physisorption. 5. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium has a plurality of pores, the pores having a diameter of at least about 0.65 nm. 6. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium has a surface area to mass ratio of at least about 150 m2/g. 7. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium has a surface area to mass ratio of at least about 900 m2/g. 8. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium is in particulate form. 9. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the medium is configured to store hydrogen with a heat of hydrogen adsorption of at least about 9 kJ/mol. 10. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, wherein at a pressure of between about 1 bar and about 30 bar, the medium substantially adsorbs hydrogen at temperatures which range between about 20 K and about 200 K. 11. The medium for storing hydrogen as described in claim 1, further comprising hydrogen adsorbed to the medium. 12. A medium for hydrogen storage and release comprising: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid and disodium borohydrate; and hydrogen, wherein the hydrogen is bound to the at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid and disodium borohydrate. 13. A composition comprising: hydrogen; and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, disodium borohydrate, wherein hydrogen is adsorbed to the at least one compound. 14. A method for storing hydrogen comprising: providing a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, and disodium borohydrate; providing hydrogen to be stored; and introducing hydrogen into the storage medium, whereupon at least some of the hydrogen adsorbs to the medium. 15. A method for storing and releasing hydrogen comprising: providing a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid and disodium borohydrate; providing hydrogen to be stored; holding the storage medium within a temperature range between about 20 K and about 100 K, and at a pressure of between about 1 bar and about 30 bar; introducing the hydrogen to the storage medium, whereupon a least some of the hydrogen adsorbs to the medium; holding the adsorbed hydrogen in the storage medium; and releasing at least some of the adsorbed hydrogen from the storage medium by increasing the temperature of the medium to a range between about 100 K and about 200 K, whereupon the hydrogen desorbs from the medium. 16. A method for storing hydrogen within an apparatus and releasing the hydrogen from the apparatus, the method comprising: providing a storage apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising an interior and an entry for hydrogen and an exit for hydrogen; providing a storage medium disposed within the interior of the apparatus, the medium comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boron oxide orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, hydrated boric acid, and disodium borohydrate; providing hydrogen to be stored; introducing hydrogen into the interior of the storage apparatus through the entry, whereupon at least some of the hydrogen adsorbs to the medium disposed therein; storing the adsorbed hydrogen within the storage apparatus; warming the interior of the storage apparatus, thereby desorbing at least some of the adsorbed hydrogen from the storage medium; and removing desorbed hydrogen from the storage apparatus by allowing the desorbed hydrogen to escape through the exit.