The design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in hydrogen storage applications

Abstract

Carbon-based energy, when incompletely burned, produces toxic gases, and the earth's environment is irreversibly negatively affected. As a kind of clean energy, hydrogen energy has abundant resources and can be recycled, which is the focus of attention in the 21st century. However, hydrogen production, storage, transport and safety are major problems for the industrialization and large-scale commercialization of hydrogen energy technology. As an emerging nanoporous material, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are formed by self-assembly of inorganic metal ions and organic ligands, which have many unique characteristics beyond traditional porous materials, such as the high reversibility and high adsorption and desorption ability of hydrogen gas, which endows MOF materials a broad prospect of application. This paper introduces the MOF materials' application in hydrogen storage and comprehensively summarizes the decisive factors of MOF materials' performance in hydrogen storage. The issue prospects and suggestions are also given accordingly for the future research and promotion of MOF-based materials in hydrogen storage.