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HYDROGEN STORAGE

An amino acid is essential

Nature Energy volume 7, pages 396–397 (2022)Cite this article

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Formic acid is a promising hydrogen carrier, but more effective and economical catalysis of both its synthesis from H2 and CO2 and its dehydrogenation is needed. To this end, a Mn-based complex, in the presence of an α-amino acid, is now shown to promote efficient catalysis of both reactions and enable retention and reuse of CO2.

A key requirement for a hydrogen economy is the development of safe, effective and economical systems to store and release hydrogen. Formic acid (FA) is a promising substance for hydrogen storage since at room temperature it is a liquid with high volumetric H2 storage capacity (53 g H2 l–1) and low toxicity and flammability1. Functional systems that reversibly store and release H2 using FA (or formate, if a base is present) require efficient catalysts for both CO2 hydrogenation to produce FA, which charges the system with H2, and FA dehydrogenation, which discharges H2. So far, most catalysts that facilitate both reactions effectively are based on noble metals, which can be cost-prohibitive.

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Fig. 1: Reversible formic acid synthesis using a manganese pincer complex.

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  1. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Department of Chemistry, Oshkosh, WI, USA

    Sheri Lense

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  1. Sheri Lense
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Correspondence to Sheri Lense.

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Lense, S. An amino acid is essential. Nat Energy 7, 396–397 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-022-01030-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-022-01030-9

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