A single element thin-film device, a method for producing a thin-film device, a single element for detecting hydrogen absorption, a hydrogen sensor, and an apparatus for detecting hydrogen and to an electro-magnetic transformer comprising such sensor. A thin-film device comprises a substrate, an active sensing layer whose optical properties change depending on hydrogen content, and a protective layer on the active sensing layer.

An object of the present invention is to enable filling a hydrogen storage alloy uniformly and easily at the time of filling the hydrogen storage alloy. The invention relates to a method for filling a hydrogen storage alloy including, when the hydrogen storage alloy that has been made as a resin composite material by mixing hydrogen storage alloy particles or powder with a resin and carbon fiber is filled into a tank, vibrating the tank at a predetermined frequency to adjust a filling ratio of the hydrogen storage alloy in the tank.

This invention describes spherical nanoparticle hydrides and a method for making them. A method of producing spherical nanoparticle hydrides comprises obtaining an electrically conductive or semiconductive wire fabricated from a base material capable of forming a hydride; exposing the wire to a hydrogen-containing processing gas under pressure; vaporizing the wire by electrical discharge, to generate a vapor phase; and reacting with hydrogen and condensing the vapor phase, generating a plurality of spherical nanoparticle hydrides. A composition of spherical nanoparticles is also provided, wherein each of the nanoparticles contains a base material that is electrically conductive or semiconductive and capable of forming a hydride, and hydrogen that is chemically or physically bonded with the base material, wherein the nanoparticles are characterized by a number-average particle diameter from 1 nanometer to 1000 nanometers, and wherein the nanoparticles are characterized by an average hydrogen content from 10 atom % to 85 atom %.

A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.

The invention relates to a hydrogen storage pellet enabling the production of compact, modular, safe and energy-efficient hydrogen reservoirs. The pellet according to the invention comprises a peripheral ring (4) having an outer diameter of expanded natural graphite (ENG) of a determined height, surrounding a wafer of a metal hydride (5) in the form of compacted powder.

Disclosed is a method of: providing a hydrogenated sp.sup.2 carbon allotrope, and releasing hydrogen gas from the carbon allotrope. The method may use an apparatus having: a vessel for containing the hydrogenated sp.sup.2 carbon allotrope, a fuel cell capable of using hydrogen gas a fuel, and a tube for transporting hydrogen gas from the vessel to the fuel cell. The carbon allotrope may be made by: providing a mixture of an sp.sup.2 carbon allotrope and liquid ammonia, adding an alkali metal to the mixture, and sonicating the mixture to form a hydrogenated form of the carbon allotrope. The hydrogenated carbon can be at least 3.5 wt % hydrogen covalently bound to the carbon.

The present invention disclosures a magnesium@high-sulfur coke hydrogen storage material and a preparation method thereof. The method comprises: ball milling magnesium powder with high-sulfur coke in an inert atmosphere to obtain a mixture; subjecting the mixture to pressing to form a pressed tablet, followed by melt infiltration in an inert atmosphere to obtain an infiltrated product and a magnesium vapor; and subjecting the infiltrated product to adsorption and condensation of the magnesium vapor to obtain the magnesium@high-sulfur coke hydrogen storage material. The prepared magnesium@high-sulfur coke has low plateau temperature, high hydrogen storage capacity, fast hydrogen absorption/desorption rate, and other advantages.

The present invention provides a hydrogen storage and release material including a two-dimensional hydrogen boride-containing sheet including a two-dimensional network containing n(H.sub.xB.sub.y) (n4, 0.001x/y0.999) having a molar ratio of boron to hydrogen from 1:0.999 to 1:0.001, the molar ratio being determined by thermal desorption spectroscopy, and mass measurement before and after a temperature rise, wherein the hydrogen storage and release material has: peaks derived from B1s of boron at 187.51.0 eV and 191.21.0 eV to 1931.0 eV in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and a peak derived from a BH stretching vibration at from 2400 cm.sup.1 to 2600 cm.sup.1 and also a peak derived from a BHB stretching vibration at from 1200 cm.sup.1 to 1800 cm.sup.1 in infrared spectroscopy.

A hydrogen absorption/discharge device includes an absorption/discharge part, a first electrode located at a first end portion side of the absorption/discharge part, a second electrode located at a second end portion side of the absorption/discharge part, and buffer layers located respectively between the first electrode and the first end portion of the absorption/discharge part and between the second electrode and the second end portion of the absorption/discharge part; the absorption/discharge part includes a material that allows permeation of hydrogen and hydride-ion conduction; and the second end portion faces the first end portion.

A method of hydrogen storage is described. The method includes injecting hydrogen into a subterranean banded iron formation, including magnetite, hematite, and/or pyrite, where the hydrogen is mainly hydrogen (H.sub.2) gas based on the total volume of the hydrogen. Further, the subterranean banded iron formation includes mainly magnetite, hematite, and/or pyrite based on a total weight of the subterranean banded iron formation, where the hydrogen is adsorbed on the magnetite, the hematite, and/or the pyrite. Further, the method includes injecting ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid into the subterranean banded iron formation to release the hydrogen from the magnetite, the hematite, and/or the pyrite.