PhD student at TU/e finds method to improve hydrogen storage
PhD student Georgy Filonenko of Eindhoven University of Technology has discovered a catalyst that can quickly convert hydrogen into formic acid and back again. The invention could possibly be used in hydrogen cars, since pure hydrogen is difficult to store.
It has been known for several years that hydrogen can combine with carbon dioxide to form liquid formic acid, and that it can also be released from it again. So far, the conversion has been relatively slow. During Filonenko’s research, two Chemical Engineering bachelor’s students accidentally discovered a new catalyst: a complex of an organic molecule with an atom of ruthenium.
With the help of the catalyst, Filonenko achieved a reaction speed ten times faster than the system that was the fastest before after optimizations. Moreover, the catalyst of that system was considerably more expensive, and the reaction discovered by Filonenko is easily reversible. When the formic acid is heated to 90 degrees, the hydrogen is released again.
Hydrogen is difficult to store because the substance has a low density. In order to carry a practical amount of hydrogen, it must be stored under high pressure. This means that the tank must be heavier and equipped with additional systems to regulate the pressure. Converting hydrogen to formic acid for storage could be a solution to the problem. However, the storage density still needs to be increased before the invention can be put to practical use. For the time being, the researchers are therefore also looking at other molecules to store hydrogen, such as methanol.
Filonenko will defend his PhD thesis ‘On the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 and carboxylic acid esters’ at TU/e today.