Recent Advances of Hydrogen Storage in Carbon-Based Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The vast combustion of fossil fuels remains the dominant source of energy consumption. Consequently, carbon dioxide, which is the main combustion product in power plants and automotive applications, has been estimated to contribute more than 40% of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions worldwide. A drastic solution to this problem is the replacement of fossil fuels with environmentally clean fuels such as hydrogen (H₂)_.  Hydrogen constitutes an ideal ‘’green’’ fuel to replace non-renewable hydrocarbons because its unique combustion product is water, and because it is lightweight, nontoxic, and available in enormous amounts since it is the most abundant element in the universe. However, the utilization of molecular hydrogen as an energy carrier requires two basic steps to be accomplished, namely, a) hydrogen production and b) hydrogen storage.

To meet the second step, materials capable of absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide safely and efficiently have become a major challenge over the last decades. In this aspect, carbon-based materials appear as highly attractive due to their multifunctional nature since they combine unique chemical and physical properties, elevated thermal conductivity, and high charge carrier mobility. For this topic, we encourage the design and development of novel functional carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and their hybrids (with various structures, formations and shapes) with high surface areas and pore volumes and accessible and chemically tunable surface areas, which thus comprise ideal systems for H₂-sorption applications.

For this research topic, the submission of manuscripts related to the synthesis, characterization, and study of carbon-based nanohybrids and their potential applications for H₂ storage applications is welcomed. The submission of experimental and theoretical original research articles as well as review papers is also encouraged. 

Dr. Konstantinos Spyrou
Guest Editor

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