Kabushiki Kaisha Atsumitec

Kazumi Harada

Naoki Uchiyama

Tomomi Kanai

A hydrogen storage method is provided which enables a hydrogen storage alloy to store hydrogen up to a maximum hydrogen storage amount thereof in excess of a generally known theoretical value. In a hydrogenation step, a hydrogen storage ratio calculated as an atomic weight ratio between hydrogen and the hydrogen storage alloy is obtained beforehand as a theoretical value, a pressure at which the hydrogen storage alloy stores hydrogen up to the theoretical value is set as a first pressure value, a pressure value ten or more times greater than the first pressure value is set as a second pressure value, and pressure is increased up to the second pressure value. In a dehydrogenation step, the pressure is decreased from the second pressure value to or below the first pressure value. The hydrogenation step and the dehydrogenation step are repeatedly executed.

Hydrogen storage method

A hydrogen storage alloy unit comprises a porous bodyhaving a large number of holes (spaces)allowing hydrogen atoms to pass through, and a hydrogen storage alloy covering a surface of the porous body, inclusive of surfaces of the holes thereof. The hydrogen storage alloy includes a hydrogen storage base formed of a hydrogen storage material, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the hydrogen storage base. The porous bodyis formed of an assembly of hydrogen storage fibersformed by vapor-depositing the hydrogen storage alloy onto nanofibers.

Hydrogen storage unit

A hydrogen sensor using a hydrogen-absorbing alloy containing an Mg&#x2014;Ni-based alloy and a Zr&#x2014;Ti-based alloy includes a substrate (), a hydrogen reaction layer () formed on the substrate () and containing the Mg&#x2014;Ni-based alloy and the Zr&#x2014;Ti-based alloy, and a first catalyst layer () formed on the hydrogen reaction layer () and capable of accelerating hydrogenation of the Mg&#x2014;Ni-based alloy.

Hydrogen-absorbing alloy and hydrogen sensor using the alloy

A hydrogen storage alloy comprises a hydrogen storage base formed of a mixture of magnesium and an alloy, such as a magnesium-nickel alloy, a magnesium-titanium alloy, a magnesium-niobium alloy, a magnesium-manganese alloy, or a magnesium-cobalt alloy, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the base. A hydrogen storage alloy unit includes the hydrogen storage base and a porous body including an assembly of nanofibers. The alloy may be vapor-deposited onto the assembly of nanofibers. The nanofibers may be tangled to provide spaces between the fibers for the passage of hydrogen molecules. The nanofibers in one example are also porous. A catalytic layer of platinum may cover a surface of the hydrogen storage base.

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Hamamatsu, Japan

Kazumi Harada