Porous organic crystals could store hydrogen

A robust crystal made from organic molecules can squeeze copious amounts of hydrogen into its pores, offering a promising way to store the gas ( Nat. Chem. 2024, DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01622-w ). The crystal is a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF), and it ranks among the best hydrogen storage materials discovered to date, says J. Fraser Stoddart of the University of Hong Kong, who led the research team. Hydrogen produced by low-carbon processes could play a key role in tackling climate change , by replacing polluting fossil fuels or feedstock chemicals. But storing the gas aboard hydrogen-powered vehicles has been a big challenge. A high-pressure hydrogen tank would have to be three or four times as large as a gasoline tank to provide an equivalent driving range, according to the US Department of Energy (DoE). Porous materials can potentially store hydrogen in a more compact way. For instance, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have