What is 'POWER PASTE' that can store hydrogen equivalent to 10 times the energy of a lithium-ion battery?



Hydrogen, which is the fuel for

fuel cell vehicles , must be transported and stored in high-pressure tanks, making it difficult to handle. 'POWER PASTE', which stores such hydrogen in a paste-like object that is easy to handle, was developed by the Production Technology and Applied Materials Research Institute (IFAM) of the Fraunhofer Research Organization in Germany.

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https://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en/Press_Releases/Hydrogen-powered_drives_for_e-scooters.html

According to IFAM, hundreds of fuel cell vehicles are already on the road in Germany. However, the materials used to make fuel cells are expensive, the construction of hydrogen stations equipped with high-pressure tanks is expensive, and scooters and small vehicles can be equipped with high-pressure tanks to store hydrogen. Various problems such as difficulty have been pointed out, and much research is being conducted to solve them.

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'POWER PASTE' announced by IFAM this time is a paste based on

magnesium hydride, which is a hydrogen storage material that can be obtained at a relatively low price, and it is said that hydrogen can be safely stored at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. matter.



'POWER PASTE' reacts with water supplied from another tank to generate the required amount of hydrogen for the fuel cell. At this time, half of the hydrogen used as energy is supplied from the water for reaction, so the actual energy density of 'POWER PASTE' is very high. IFAM says, ''POWERPASTE' can safely store 10 times more energy than lithium-ion batteries. Also, since it does not generate hydrogen at temperatures below 250 degrees Celsius, it is safe to leave the vehicle in the scorching sun for a long time. It emphasizes the amount of energy stored and the high level of safety.

In addition, operating a hydrogen station equipped with a high-pressure tank requires a capital investment of 1 to 2 million euros (about 127 to 254 million yen) per hydrogen pump, but 'POWER PASTE' Can be stored at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, so it can be operated with a capital investment of tens of thousands of euros (millions of yen). In addition, it does not require a high-pressure tank, so it can be transported at a relatively low cost. For this reason, IFAM expects more 'POWER PASTE' supply facilities in areas where hydrogen stations are not well equipped.



IFAM says, ''POWERPASTE' can be operated with a small cartridge, so it can be installed in electric scooters and small passenger cars, but it is also expected to be used as a range extender for battery-powered electric vehicles. By installing a power supply system using 'POWERPASTE', the flight time can be greatly extended, and there is a possibility that the drone can be used in fields that require long flight such as forestry and wire inspection. It is also possible to use the 'POWERPASTE' installed in the camper to supply power to coffee makers and toasters, 'he said, claiming that the' POWERPASTE 'can be used for a wide range of purposes.

IFAM is constructing a factory capable of producing up to 4 tons of 'POWER PASTE' annually, and plans to start operations by the end of 2021.

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in Science, Posted by log1o_hf