HOLLOW POROUS-WALL GLASS MICROSPHERES FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE

摘要

A porous wall hollow glass microsphere is provided having a diameter range ofbetween 1 to 200 microns, a density of between 1.0 to 2.0 gm/cc, a porous-wallstructure having wall openings defining an average pore size of between 10 to1000 angstroms, and which contains therein a hydrogen storage material. Theporous-wall structure facilitates the introduction of a hydrogen storagematerial into the interior of the porous wall hollow glass microsphere. Inthis manner, the resulting hollow glass microsphere can provide a membrane forthe selective transport of hydrogen through the porous walls of themicrosphere, the small pore size preventing gaseous or liquid contaminantsfrom entering the interior of the hollow glass microsphere. A hydrogen storagematerial (e.g. Palladium) is introduced into the porous glass micropheres bysubjecting them to partial vacuum, surrounding them with a solution containingthe hydrogen storage material, increasing the pressure to force the solutioninto the spheres, drying them and finally reducing the hydrogen storagematerial .