A new procedure for the efficient on-demand production, storage and safe transport of hydrogen for fuel cells isImplementation of silane/alcohol as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier catalyzed by ruthenium. Source: Ventura-Espinosa et al based on the use of liquid hydrogen organic carriers. These liquids can store hydrogen for long periods and can be transported via the current infrastructure.

Academic researchers from Spain evaluated different hydrogen-bearing organic liquids to configure a hydrogen storage system based on a chemical coupling reaction between a hydrosilane and an alcohol catalyzed by a ruthenium compound supported in graphene.

The process is flexible since many combinations of hydrosilanes and alcohols can be used, and it can be conducted at relatively low temperatures. The product formed in the hydrosilane-alcohol reaction is silyl ether that can be further transformed into the original product by a reductant, making the scheme reversible.

Researchers from the Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, the University of Zaragoza and the Institute of Chemical Technology of the Universitat Politècnica de València-CSIC participated in this investigation.