APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Hydrogen storage
- Fuel cells
ADVANTAGES:
- Exceeds DOE 2017 gravimetric and ultimate full-fleet volumetric targets for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)
- Stabilize reactive nanocrystalline metals at zero valency
ABSTRACT:
Berkeley Lab and University of California, Berkeley researchers led by Jeff Urban developed a technology to obtain environmentally stable and exceptionally dense hydrogen storage using atomically thin and gas-selective graphene nanoribbons and / or sheets as encapsulants. Details of the invention are available in published PCT application PCT/US2016 031360 (WO2016179567).
While commitment to hydrogen fueled cars is growing, technologies for safe, solid-state hydrogen storage with ample reversible storage capacity remain elusive. Compressed hydrogen tanks cannot meet long-term storage targets, and they limit vehicle occupancy. Metal hydrides offer advantages in terms of capacity and operating requirements but have demonstrated oxidative instability and sluggish kinetics.
STATUS: Published Patent Application US2016/031360 (US2018/0185814). Available for licensing or collaborative research.
REFERENCE NUMBER: 2015-089