Hydrogen storage materials containing liquid electrolytes

US11050075B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• HRL Laboratories, LLC · US

Inventors

• John J. Vajo · Mountain View Mobile Estates, US
• Jason A. Graetz · Calabasas, US
• Channing Ahn · Pasadena, US
• Dan D. Addison · Los Angeles, US
• Hongjin Tan · Bartlesville, US
• Jasim Uddin · Pasadena, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 22, 2018
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In some variations, a hydrogen-storage material formulation comprises: a solid hydrogen-storage material containing at least one metal and hydrogen that is bonded with the metal; and a liquid electrolyte that is ionically conductive for at least one ion derived from the hydrogen-storage material. The liquid electrolyte may be from 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of the hydrogen-storage material formulation, for example. Many materials are possible for both the hydrogen-storage material as well as the liquid electrolyte. The hydrogen-storage material has a higher hydrogen evolution rate in the presence of the liquid electrolyte compared to a hydrogen-storage material without the liquid electrolyte. This is experimentally demonstrated with a destabilized metal hydride, MgH2/Si system, incorporating a LiI—KI—CsI ternary eutectic salt as the liquid electrolyte. Inclusion of the liquid electrolyte gives a ten-fold increase in H2 evolution rate at 250° C., reaching 3.5 wt % hydrogen released in only 7 hours.