Optimization of the flow of hydrogen in amorphous materials: from ultra-fast to ultra-slow

Renewable energy sources in Sweden occasionally produce excess energy that is difficult to retain in the current network.

In order to avoid wasting this energy and become more resource efficient, one could use this excess to produce hydrogen, which can at a later time for example supply a part of the transport fleet with energy.

Controlling the flow of hydrogen in and out of materials is one of the crucial challenges to realise a functioning hydrogen economy.

Here we propose a combined optical experimental and theoretical screening method for finding new amorphous materials that exhibit “super highways” and “robust roadblocks” for hydrogen. Such an approach holds great promise to discover new materials for hydrogen storage.

Our project can thus make the interactions in the renewable energy system of Sweden more flexible and robust, by introducing novel efficient storage for excess energy in the form of hydrogen.