Characterization of the interactions of molecular hydrogen with porous host materials by inelastic neutron scattering: Implications for hydrogen storage materials

Among various approaches to the storage of hydrogen fuel for mobile applications, physisorption of hydrogen in porous materials is attractive primarily because of simple adsorption/desorption kinetics. The host material to strengthen its interaction with H₂ was modified. These interactions were most effectively gauged by the hindered rotational energy levels of the H₂ molecule, which can readily be observed by inelastic neutron scattering. Studies on sorbed H₂ in zeolites, metal-organic framework compounds, and hybrid materials with unsaturated metal binding sites provided some direction for future porous hydrogen storage materials. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).