Hydrogen storage by adsorption offers operational benefits over energy intensive compression
techniques. Incorporating physisorption materials in compression stores could improve hydrogen
capacities, reducing the volume or pressure needed for storage vessels. However, such materials are
often presented as fine powders and development ...
Hydrogen storage by adsorption offers operational benefits over energy intensive compression
techniques. Incorporating physisorption materials in compression stores could improve hydrogen
capacities, reducing the volume or pressure needed for storage vessels. However, such materials are
often presented as fine powders and development efforts to date have predominantly focused on
improving hydrogen uptake alone. Without due attention to industry-relevant attributes, such as
handling, processability, and mechanical properties it is unlikely that these materials will find commercial
application. In the paper, the desirable mechanical properties of hydrogen-adsorbent PIM-1 are
exploited to yield a series of composite monoliths doped with a high surface area activated carbon,
intended to act as pressure vessel inserts. Freeze casting techniques were successfully adapted for use
with chloroform, facilitating the production of coherent and controlled three-dimensional geometries.
This included the use of an innovative elastomeric mould made by additive manufacture to allow facile
adoption, with the ability to vary multiple forming factors in the future. The composite monolith formed
exhibited a stiffness of 0.26 GPa, a compressive strength of 6.7 MPa, and an increased BET surface area
of 847 m2 g1 compared to PIM-1 powders, signifying the first steps towards producing hydrogen
adsorbents in truly useful monolithic forms.