The present disclosure relates generally to new forms of portable energy generation devices and methods. The devices are designed to covert formic acid into released hydrogen, alleviating the need for a hydrogen tank as a hydrogen source for fuel cell power.

Disclosed is a hydrogen generator with a door that can be opened to replace a fuel unit and closed to seal the door. A lock responds directly to pressure within the chamber to prevent opening when the pressure exceeds a threshold value. The lock includes a locking member with a lug that engages a retainer to seal the door when the door is locked and is disengaged from the retainer when the door is unlocked. An opening mechanism moves the locking member to lock and unlock the door. A movable key is engaged with the opening mechanism and the locking member when the pressure in the chamber is at or below the threshold value and disengaged from one of the opening mechanism and the locking member by an actuator (e.g., a flexible diaphragm) so the door cannot be unlocked and opened when the pressure is above the threshold value.

The present invention provides a system and method of storing hydrogen (H.sub.2) and releasing it on demand, comprising and making use of diaminoalkanes and alcohols, or aminoalcohols as liquid-organic hydrogen carrier systems (LOHC). 2-amino-ethanol (AE) or its N-methyl derivative 2-(methylamino)ethanol undergo catalytic dehydrogenation to form a cyclic dipeptide (glycine anhydride—GA) or its N,N-dimethyl derivative (N,N-dimethyl GA) with release of hydrogen. Similarly, ethylenediamine (ED) and ethanol undergo catalytic dehydrogenation to form N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine (DAE) with release of hydrogen. Glycine anhydride (GA) or N,N-dimethyl-GA may be hydrogenated back to 2-aminoethanol (AE) or 2-(methylamino)ethanol, respectively, each of which functions as a hydrogen storage system. N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine (DAE) may be hydrogenated back to ED and ethanol, which functions as a hydrogen storage system. These reactions may be catalyzed by a variety of compounds or complexes, including Ruthenium complexes as described herein.

The present invention provides a system and method of storing hydrogen (H.sub.2) and releasing it on demand, comprising and making use of diaminoalkanes and alcohols, or aminoalcohols as liquid-organic hydrogen carrier systems (LOHC). 2-amino-ethanol (AE) or its N-methyl derivative 2-(methylamino)ethanol undergo catalytic dehydrogenation to form a cyclic dipeptide (glycine anhydride—GA) or its N,N-dimethyl derivative (N,N-dimethyl GA) with release of hydrogen. Similarly, ethylenediamine (ED) and ethanol undergo catalytic dehydrogenation to form N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine (DAE) with release of hydrogen. Glycine anhydride (GA) or N,N-dimethyl-GA may be hydrogenated back to 2-aminoethanol (AE) or 2-(methylamino)ethanol, respectively, each of which functions as a hydrogen storage system. N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine (DAE) may be hydrogenated back to ED and ethanol, which functions as a hydrogen storage system. These reactions may be catalyzed by a variety of compounds or complexes, including Ruthenium complexes as described herein.

A graphene sheet including an intercalation compound and 2 to about 300 unit graphene layers, wherein each of the unit graphene layers includes a polycyclic aromatic molecule in which a plurality of carbon atoms in the polycyclic aromatic molecule are covalently bonded to each other; and wherein the intercalation compound is interposed between the unit graphene layers.

A storage medium and an inert material, either integrated into the storage medium or existing as a separate phase in the storage medium, form a storage structure. The inert material at least partially contains or is formed by a polymorphous inert material. The polymorphous inert material has at least one polymorphous phase transition in the range between ambient temperature and maximum operating temperature of the solid electrolyte battery. The polymorphous phase transition induces a distortion of the lattice structure of the inert material, thus causing a change in the specific volume and acting on the surrounding grains of the storage medium. A mechanical coupling of the stresses triggered by the phase transition of the inert material causes the neighboring grains of the storage medium to break apart, such that new reactive zones become available in the storage medium, thereby regenerating the solid electrolyte battery.

A palladium hydride nanomaterial includes nanostructures having a chemical composition represented by the formula: M.sub.y—Pd.sub.xH.sub.z, where M is at least one metal different from palladium; x has a non-zero value in the range of 0 to 5; y has a value in the range of 0 to 5; and z has a non-zero value in the range of 0 to 5.

A hydrogen storage composite material includes: a graphene oxide framework provided as a porous structure and having an average pore diameter of 1 to 2 nm; and the graphene oxide framework is impregnated with a metal hydride, the graphene oxide framework comprises: a graphene oxide; and a linker connecting the graphene oxide.

This disclosure provides a hydrogen storing alloy and a production method thereof. The hydrogen storing alloy has a chemical composition of a general formula R.sub.(1-x)Mg.sub.xNi.sub.y, wherein R is one or more elements selected from rare earth elements comprising Y, x satisfies 0.05≦x≦0.3, and y satisfies 2.8≦y≦3.8. The ratio of the maximal peak intensity present in a range of 2θ=31°-33° to the maximal peak intensity present in a range of 2θ=41°-44° is 0.1 or less (including 0), as measured by X-ray diffraction in which a Cu-Kα ray is set as an X-ray source.

A solid-state hydrogen storage device includes a first storage for storing a reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material, a reactor disposed in the first storage to enable a hydrolysis reaction of a non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material to be performed therein, and a fuel cell stack, wherein the non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material is stored in the reactor, and wherein the non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material releases heat when the hydrolysis is performed.