Toward a Hydrogen Economy: Development of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Chemical Hydrogen Storage and Release Reactions

Chemical hydrogen storage and release processes are essential steps for the implementation of new energy vectors. In general, the individual reactions involved in such technologies need catalysts to allow discharging and recharging hydrogen in a stable and efficient manner. In recent years, the development of hydrogen storage materials and their use in renewable energy systems have experienced rapid growth. While many academic works in this area make use of homogeneous catalysts, there is the practical need for heterogeneous catalytic systems, which often can be more easily applied on a larger industrial scale. In this Review we highlight the present status of using heterogeneous materials as catalysts for both chemical hydrogen storage and release systems, providing detailed reaction parameters for practical demonstration. The pros and cons of the currently known systems and their differences relative to homogeneous catalysts are also explained and critically discussed.