California startup H2MOF revolutionises Hydrogen Storage with Nanomaterial Tanks

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California startup H2MOF revolutionises Hydrogen Storage with Nanomaterial Tanks

California startup H2MOF revolutionises Hydrogen Storage with Nanomaterial Tanks

Industry News
Nov 09,23

The company aims to introduce its next-generation hydrogen tanks to heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers after 2024.

California startup H2MOF revolutionises Hydrogen Storage with Nanomaterial Tanks

A California startup, co-founded in 2022 by two prominent chemists, including a Nobel laureate, is pioneering a new approach to hydrogen storage. H2MOF, based in Irvine, California, is developing a revolutionary tank made with nanomaterials to make moving and storing hydrogen more affordable and energy-efficient. The company aims to introduce its next-generation hydrogen tanks to heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers after 2024. Unlike traditional tanks that rely on highly compressed or liquefied hydrogen, H2MOF's design holds the fuel in a solid state, absorbed into specially engineered nanomaterials.

The technology is based on the research of its co-founders and scientific advisors, Omar Yahgi, a chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Sir Fraser Stoddart, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016. H2MOF's tanks use metal-organic framework (MOF) materials designed at the atomic level to store hydrogen. These crystal-like materials pull in and hold hydrogen atoms, similar to a sponge absorbing water. Unlike existing carbon fibre-wrapped tanks, which store hydrogen at extremely high pressures, H2MOF's tanks operate at lower pressures, significantly reducing costs. The company estimates that adopting its technology could save substantial energy expenses for fuel cell vehicles and increase their range without adding weight.

The significance of H2MOF's innovation lies in its potential to revolutionise hydrogen storage and transportation, overcoming the current technical challenges associated with the element. The company's approach could unlock significant demand for hydrogen and accelerate its adoption as a clean energy source, aligning with the goals of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Source: Forbes