Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) on Hydrogen Storage and Purification

Abstract

As a clean energy source, hydrogen shows promise as a potential substitute for non-renewable fossil fuels. However, the challenges with hydrogen include the difficulties in storing it feasibly and separating it from other gases mixed during industrial production. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) refer to crystalline substances that possess a significant porosity and expansive surface area, enabling them to effectively adsorb hydrogen via the van der Waals force. MOFs have been studied for ways to improve their surface area and hydrogen uptake capacities by various modification methods. This review discusses the key strategies for enhancing the hydrogen storage properties of MOFs to achieve the necessary increase in energy supply and the mechanisms behind the purification of hydrogen in practical use. Detailed discussions take place regarding synthesis methods, experimental testing results, and the mechanism behind the enhancement of hydrogen storage for each modification of MOF material discovered. Also, other parameters that may influence MOFs’ hydrogen storage properties are demonstrated, together with the separating mechanism of purifying hydrogen from other gases and isotopes.