One of the key barriers to the adoption of hydrogen as a fuel is finding safe and economical solutions for onboard and stationary storage. While cryogenic storage and the use of compressed gas cylinders have been used in pilot projects, a safer and more efficient method could use solid-state storage methods involving the combination of metal alloys with hydrogen, which can reversibly combine with, and release, hydrogen. 

Ilika specializes in combinatorial technology for rapidly creating and screening materials relevant for hydrogen storage. This involves the combination of metal alloys with hydrogen to form metal hydrides, which can reversibly combine with, and release, hydrogen. 

Jack Boyer, Ilika’s Chairman stated, “We are pleased to combine our research capabilities with those of Shell. Our collaboration model has proven successful with other major customers and we fully expect a successful technical and commercial outcome to this project”. 

Shell Hydrogen, a Shell Group business set-up in 1999, has its headquarters in The Hague and regional offices in Huston and Tokyo. Its goal; to bring hydrogen into a retail setting through the knowledge and expertise gained from demonstration projects located across three continents. 

Ilika Technologies Ltd is a privately held company established in 2004. Ilika quickly established a reputation for innovation and rapid results in the high growth industry of materials development. The company specializes in the development and application of high-throughput, combinatorial R&D techniques for the accelerated discovery of new materials.