Emerging Materials and Thermal Issues for Hydrogen Fuel Storage Vipin Yadav Department of Mechanical Engineering Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology Raebareli Uttar Pradesh 229 316, India Email: vyadav@rgipt.ac.in Abstract: Storage of hydrogen is one of the key challenges in developing hydrogen economy, since it has been considered as a more effective alternative energy resources by the energy researchers. Conventional storage methods such as high-pressure gas or cryogenic liquid hydrogen cannot fulfil the set future storage goals. Storage in solid fuel form by chemically or physically combined within materials has potential advantages over other storage methods. In this paper, recent developments of carbon based materials based on storage capacity, operating conditions and thermal effects are summed up in simple manner. Few relevant thermal issues are also discussed. Key words: Complex Hydrides, Carbon Nanotubes, Activated Carbons, Thermal Management. 1.0 Introduction Total world energy consumption is roughly estimated to increase as much as by 50 percent by next three decades [1]. At this time fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline fulfil most of the energy needs of the world. However, owing to their diminishing reserves, high prices and most importantly, damaging effect on the environment, alternate sources of energy and environmental friendly fuels are now being developed. In persuasion to increasing demand of global community for clean and sustainable energy sources, interest of energy researchers in one of potential alternate fuel i.e. hydrogen has grown considerably. Hydrogen is abundant in nature and possesses high gravimetric energy content; however, when produced artificially, it bears at least three times higher production cost compared to that of the conventional petroleum based fuels [2]. The methods for Hydrogen storage not contributing towards further substantial cost increment and safety under all kind of system operating conditions are among the most difficult technical challenges for realizing the hydrogen power. Hydrogen can be stored as a high-pressure gas, very low temperature liquid and solid (adsorbed/absorbed) phases. There are six methods for storage hydrogen: liquefaction, compression, absorption in metals and complex hydrides, hydrogen storage based on water adsorption in high surface area nanoporous materials [3].