The Potential of Polymers and Glass to Enhance Hydrogen Storage Capacity: A Mathematical Approach

This manuscript contributes to understanding the role of hydrogen in different materials, emphasizing polymers and composite materials, to increase hydrogen storage capacity in those materials. Hydrogen storage is critical in advancing and optimizing sustainable energy solutions that are essential for improving their performance. Capillary arrays, which offer increased surface area and optimized storage geometries, present a promising avenue for enhancing hydrogen uptake. This work evaluates various polymers and glass for their mechanical properties and strength with 700 bar inner pressure loads within capillary tubes. A theoretical mathematical approach was employed to quantify the impact of material properties on storage capacity. Our results demonstrate that certain polymers (e.g., Zylon AS, Dyneema SK99) and glass types (S-2 Glass) exhibit superior hydrogen storage potential due to their enhanced strength and low density. These findings suggest that integrating the proposed materials into capillary array systems can significantly improve hydrogen storage efficiency (15-37 wt.% and 37-40 g/L), making them viable candidates for next-generation energy storage systems. This study provides valuable insights into material selection and structural design strategies for high-capacity hydrogen storage technologies.