Hydrogen Storage

Our research focuses on the development of new high-entropy alloys and advanced hydride materials for hydrogen storage, the application of mechanochemistry for the reduction of metal oxides and the synthesis of organic compounds, the use of metal hydrides for the gas separation H₂/CH₄ and H₂/N₂ mixtures, and for the removal of impurities from H₂ streams at room temperature.

Projects:

Diagram illustrating a gas flow system with reactors, pressure transducers, and valves; accompanied by photographs of the actual laboratory apparatus used for controlling and measuring gas flow and pressure.

Hy-Cleanup

This project investigates the purification of hydrogen gas contaminated with trace impurities during transport through natural gas pipelines—a critical challenge as the hydrogen economy expands. more

Laboratory setup with hydrogenation and dehydrogenation equipment.

Gas separation from CH4/H2 mixtures with Metal Hydrides

In addition to established hydrogen separation techniques such as PSA (pressure swing adsorption), membrane technologies, and electrochemical processes, hydrogen can be separated efficiently and highly selectively from gas mixtures using suitable metals or metal alloys. more

Hydrogen Storage:

Periodic table showing elements with enthalpy change values, colored from red to blue.

High-Entropy Alloys for Hydrogen Storage

High-Entropy-Alloys are an emerging class of advanced materials that have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their promising properties for a wide range of applications... more

Advanced Hydride Materials

As part of our hydrogen storage research, we synthesize new hydride-based materials to enhance hydrogen storage performance, specifically by increasing hydrogen capacity, reducing desorption temperatures, and ensuring complete hydrogen release under moderate conditions. more

Mechanochemistry:

Diagram showing hydrogen reacting with metal oxide to produce metal and water in a reactor.

New Mechanochemical Pathway to Sustainable Metals

The reduction of metal oxides is a crucial step in metallurgy, catalyst synthesis, nanoparticle synthesis, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing more

Top view of a cylindrical metal container containing white powder and multiple spherical objects, possibly pellets or beads, coated in fine white dust.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Organic Compounds

The Felderhoff Group explores mechanochemical methods for the synthesis of organic compounds, including bioactive compounds, co-crystals, and diverse chemical scaffolds. more

News:

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In the spin cycle towards sustainability: MPI team achieves mechanochemical production of Ibuprofen Co-Crystals at kilogram scale

January 26, 2025

Drum mill technology as a step towards green chemistry
more

Jikai Ye wins poster prize at International Symposium on Metal-Hydrogen Systems

July 16, 2024

Researcher from Dr. Michael Felderhoff's group presented mechanochemical pathway from oxides to metal/metal hydrides in St. Malo more

More Sustainability with Mechanochemistry

September 27, 2022

Scientists of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung are part of a new European Project that deals with the impact of Mechanochemistry on industrial processes. more

“All-rounder hydrogen" - Heat storage unit starts demonstration operation

June 28, 2022

Hydrogen plays a key role in our future energy supply, which is to be based on renewable energies. Everyone is talking about hydrogen - but there are also challenges yet to be solved on the way to a hydrogen infrastructure. For example, heat storage is a key issue that needs to be addressed. A team from the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (MPI), together with other partners, has developed a promising approach here, which is now entering demonstration operation.
more

Mechanocatalytic synthesis of ammonia at room temperature and atmospheric pressure

October 28, 2021

Research Reports:

Research Report Felderhoff 2011-213 47.97 kB