Efficient storage of hydrogen fuel into leaky cages of clathrate hydrate

We demonstrate an alternative principle to efficiently store molecular hydrogen fuel into clathrate hydrate medium. Hydrogen- free hydrate powders quickly absorb the hydrogen gas at moderate pressure appropriate for industrial applications. The absorption kinetics was observed in situ by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in a pressurized tube. The diffusion of hydrogen through the solid hydrate medium was directly measured by pulsed field gradient NMR. At temperatures down to 250 K, the stored hydrogen is still mobile so that the hydrate storage should work well even in cold environments. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.