Patent ID: 7429372

Claim:
A process for the storage and subsequent release of hydrogen comprising: a) contacting hydrogen, in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions, with an extended pi-conjugated substrate to effect storage of hydrogen by forming an at least partially hydrogenated extended pi-conjugated substrate; wherein the extended pi-conjugated substrate in step a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of, extended pi-conjugated substrates with nitrogen heteroatoms, extended pi-conjugated substrates with heteroatoms other than nitrogen, pi-conjugated monocyclic substrates with multiple nitrogen heteroatoms, pi-conjugated substrates with at least one triple bonded group, a pitch, extended pi-conjugated substrates with greater than three rings, extended pi-conjugated substrates with at least two rings wherein one ring is a five membered ring, and any combination of two or more of the foregoing and b) contacting the at least partially hydrogenated extended pi-conjugated substrate under dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of an effective amount of a dehydrogenation catalyst to release hydrogen from the at least partially hydrogenated extended pi-conjugted substrate.