Researchers working at the Universities of Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham in the UK have developed a pure organic microporous polymer that can absorb and release hydrogen gas, providing a potential storage option for fuel cell power applications.

The researchers have developed a novel-structured constrained geometry polymer composed of a backbone of interlinked five and six-membered hydrocarbon rings with precisely placed interconnecting links. These links restrict “packing” of the polymer during solidification to create intrinsic microporosity.

According to Professor Neil McKeown at Cardiff University’s School of Chemistry, internal surface areas of more than 800 sq metre per gram of polymer can be achieved.

To date the team has produced polymers with uniformly distributed pores ranging from 0.6 to 0.7nm in diameter. These are capable of absorbing and releasing up to 1.7% hydrogen by weight.

McKeown says further work is required to optimise and improve performance and processing. He says the team believes they will be able to achieve a storage capacity of 6% hydrogen by weight before the end of the decade.