Patent ID: 9540738
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: C25B,C25D,H01M,Y02E

Claim:
1. A method of reversibly storing hydrogen electrochemically, the method comprising applying a suitable electrical potential difference between first and second spaced apart electrodes in facing relation with at least one of the electrodes comprising one or more hydrogen-storing composition precursors selected from the group consisting of a hydride-forming composition, a borohydride-forming composition, an alanate-forming composition, an amide-forming composition, an imide-forming composition, and a hydroxide-forming composition, each of the first and second electrodes being in contact with a non-aqueous electrolyte suited for ionic conduction, the electrodes and electrolyte being maintained under a hydrogen atmosphere, the applied potential difference promoting reaction of the hydrogen with the hydrogen-storing composition precursor to thereby form, in or on, the at least one electrode, a hydrogen-storing composition consisting of at least one of the group consisting of a hydride, a borohydride, an alanate, an amide, an imide and a hydroxide, and, continuing to store hydrogen as the just-formed hydrogen-storing composition until hydrogen is needed, then, reversing the electrical potential difference between the first and second spaced apart electrodes to release a needed quantity of hydrogen at and from the at least one electrode and to at least partially restore a corresponding portion of the initial hydrogen-storing composition precursor of the at least one electrode to prepare the at least one electrode to again store hydrogen.