Specialists from the National University of Science and Technology "MISIS" have developed a material based on boron nitride that can store three times more hydrogen than modern metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and ten times more than activated carbon. The innovation opens up prospects for creating compact and energy-efficient hydrogen fuel storage systems.
The key breakthrough was the introduction of atomic vacancies — defects in the crystal lattice of boron nitride. Scientists synthesized nanoparticles by adding carbon and oxygen atoms to the structure, and then treated the material with hydrogen at high temperatures. This led to the removal of some of the foreign atoms, forming cavities for capturing hydrogen molecules. Previously, it was believed that the capacity of the material depends only on the surface area, but the study proved that structural defects play a crucial role.
"White graphite" does not require expensive reagents and is suitable for mass production. Its use in transport will increase the range of hydrogen vehicles without increasing the volume of fuel systems. However, the current cost of storage in cylinders remains lower, so the technology is likely to find application in niche areas.
Potential areas of use are power supplies for electronics, storage devices for electric charging hubs in remote areas, radio-controlled models, drones, or equipment requiring compact energy sources.
The technology is still inferior to cylinders in commercial transport, but it is promising for specialized tasks. The material works at low temperatures and simplifies the creation of portable batteries.