Motoki Kobayashi, a researcher at the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, and his team have discovered a new method that significantly enhances the hydrogen storage capacity of perovskite crystal powders. The research results were recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

This method is based on mechanochemical reactions, in which hydrogen is introduced into the perovskite lattice structure through physical grinding and mixing of compounds. Unlike traditional hydrogen storage methods that rely on high temperatures or high pressures, this process occurs at room temperature, with lower energy consumption and greater environmental friendliness. Experiments show that the new method can increase the hydrogen saturation in perovskite from the previous 17% to 34%, effectively doubling the hydrogen storage capacity.

Perovskite oxyhydrides not only serve as hydrogen storage media but also hold potential for catalyzing ammonia synthesis. Given ammonia's wide applications in fertilizer production, plastic manufacturing, and as a hydrogen energy carrier, improving its synthesis efficiency is of great significance. The research team compared the effects of the mechanochemical method with the topochemical method and found that the former not only performs better in hydrogen storage but also induces beneficial lattice distortions that enhance catalytic activity.

Motoki Kobayashi stated: "This advancement helps promote the realization of a true hydrogen economy. In the short term, it provides design guidance for developing new functional materials containing hydride anions; in the long term, this method holds promise for applications in the preparation of ammonia synthesis catalysts and fuel cell materials."

The research is currently still in the experimental stage. The team's next steps will involve exploring whether other types of perovskite materials can further push beyond the current hydrogen storage limits.