An innovative nucleation method for high and rapid hydrogen storage based on clathrate hydrates

Abstract

Hydrate-based hydrogen storage is considered one of the most promising hydrogen storage technologies, but its slow formation kinetics impedes its applicability. In this study, a novel method to enhance hydrate nucleation and hydrate growth was proposed. Ultra-rapid and high hydrogen storage was achieved by the new method of quasi-simultaneous formation (q-SF) of propane–hydrogen hydrates. And different kinetic hydrate additives (KHAs) were introduced to enhance the kinetics of hydrate formation. The results demonstrated that this method implemented the transition of progressive nucleation to instantaneous nucleation of hydrogen hydrate, with the enhancing growth kinetics of hydrate. In the study of KHAs, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) had a significant promoting effect on propane–hydrogen hydrate growth, and high-concentration SDS could achieve higher water-to-hydrate conversion. The maximum hydrogen uptake was 67.50 cm³ cm⁻³ hydrate (0.628 wt%) at 274.15 K and the initial pressure of 18.2 MPa with a system of 0.1 wt% SDS coupled with stirring. The time from hydrate nucleation to the maximum hydrogen uptake of 90% (t₉₀) was only 21 min, and the average hydrate growth rate was 289.28 × 10⁻² cm³ cm⁻³ hydrate·min⁻¹. As far as we know, this is the fastest hydrate growth rate among hydrate-based hydrogen storage technologies so far. A mechanism was proposed to explain the promoting effect of q-SF on hydrate formation kinetics. This work provides unique insights into enhancing the kinetics of hydrogen hydrates, which would contribute to the further development of hydrate-based hydrogen storage technologies.