International project makes hydrogen storage lighter for future transport

Research Fellow at Swinburne’s AIR Hub and VH2, Madeline Van Dongen (left), worked with the University of Stuttgart on this hydrogen tank project.

An innovative new hydrogen storage technology could lead to safer, lighter and faster zero emissions transport in the future, thanks to a collaboration by Swinburne’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) and the Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub), CSIRO and the University of Stuttgart – Institute for Aircraft Design (IFB) in Germany.

The global project analysed the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as hydrogen storage materials in a technique called ‘hydrogen sorption’. MOFs can store large amounts of high purity hydrogen at much lower pressures and in storage vessels of much lower weight, more sustainable in material selection and in non-cylindrical shapes and sizes, enabling safe and widespread hydrogen transport in the future.

Research Fellow at Swinburne’s AIR Hub and VH2, Madeline Van Dongen, says that this unique project highlights the importance of safe and appropriate hydrogen storage in the implementation of the hydrogen economy. Without these storage systems, we will be unable to truly harness the myriad environmental benefits that hydrogen technology can provide.  

“I used my experience with nanoporous materials and metal-organic frameworks to help the design team to understand how MOFs stored hydrogen, and the accommodations needed in the vessel design to ensure the MOF materials would work to improve the overall storage specifications. 

“As part of this, I had the amazing opportunity to visit and collaborate with the University of Stuttgart and CSIRO teams for part of the testing and manufacturing process, meeting the team in person and helping to make this unique vessel design work.”

For Madeline, she hopes that more funding can progress this project and see the assessment of hydrogen vessels designed for MOFs under cryogenic temperatures, conformable vessel design for low-pressure MOF based vessels, as well as more detailed comparison of materials for MOF vessel design. 

“Investment in MOF vessel design could highlight Australia’s competitive advanced manufacturing technology capabilities on the global stage,” she says.

Swinburne’s VH2 and AIR Hub are continuing their international efforts towards the energy transition at the inaugural symposium of the Franco-Australian Centre for Energy Transition based at Swinburne University of Technology, from 28-29 October 2024.