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