HOLLOW POROUS-WALL GLASS MICROSPHERES FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE

摘要

A hollow glass microsphere is provided having a diameter range of between 1 to 140 microns, a density of between 0.05 to 0.50 gm/cc, a porouswall structure having wall openings defining an average pore size of between 10 to 1000 angstroms, and which contains therein a hydrogen storage material. The porous-wall structure facilitates the introduction of a hydrogen storage material into the interior of the hollow glass microsphere. Thereafter, a barrier coating may be applied and/or the microspheres are processed to alter or reduce the effective pore size. In this manner, the hollow glass microsphere can provide a membrane for the selective transport of hydrogen through the porous walls of the microsphere, the small pore size preventing gaseous or liquid contaminants from entering the interior of the hollow glass microsphere.