# US 11,298,679 B2 · Controlled release of hydrogen from composite nanoparticles

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- Number: US 11,298,679 B2
- Document ID: US11298679B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/660,853
- Filed: 2019-10-23
- Published: 2020-02-20
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
- Applicants: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
- Inventors: Simona H. Murph; Kaitlin J. Lawrence; Henry T. Sessions; Michael A. Brown
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298679B2

## CPC

- B01J 20/28007: {with size in the range 1-100 nanometers, e.g. nanosized particles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires or the like (carbon nanostructures B01J20/205)}
- B01J 20/0211: {Compounds of Ti, Zr, Hf}
- B01J 20/0214: {Compounds of V, Nb, Ta}
- B01J 20/0229: {Compounds of Fe}
- B01J 20/0233: {Compounds of Cu, Ag, Au}
- B01J 20/0244: {Compounds of Zn}
- B01J 20/28009: {Magnetic properties}
- C01B 3/0026: Metals or metal hydrides
- B01J 2220/42: Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials (materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32)
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Multi-functional materials for use in reversible, high-capacity hydrogen separation and/or storage are described. Also described are systems incorporating the materials. The multi-functional materials combine a hydrogen-absorbing material with a high-efficiency and a non-contact energy-absorbing material in a composite nanoparticle. The non-contact energy-absorbing material include magnetic and/or plasmonic materials. The magnetic or plasmonic materials of the composite nanoparticles can provide localized heating to promote release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage component of the composite nanoparticles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-functional nanoparticle for hydrogen storage or separation and controlled hydrogen release comprising:
a magnetic nanoparticle having a size of from about 1 nanometer to about 500 nanometers; and
a nanosized particle having a size of from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers deposited on a surface of the magnetic nanoparticle and in thermal contact with the magnetic nanoparticle, the nanosized particle comprising a reversible metal hydride that forms a first interstitial hydride with a first isotope of hydrogen and that forms a second interstitial hydride with a second isotope of hydrogen, wherein the first isotope of hydrogen is released from the first interstitial hydride at a first release condition and the second isotope of hydrogen is released from the second interstitial hydride at a second, different release condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is in direct contact with the reversible metal hydride of the nanosized particle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is in the shape of a sphere, a tube, a ring, or a rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 1, the magnetic nanoparticle comprising at least one of iron, nickel, gadolinium, and cobalt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 4, the magnetic nanoparticle comprising Fe2+ and/or Fe3+.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 1, the reversible metal hydride comprising palladium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, zinc, or vanadium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the reversible metal hydride has a compositional formula of:
A1-xMxT5-y-zByCz,
wherein:
A=La;
M=La, Pr, Nd or Ce;
T=Ni;
B=Co;
C=Mn, Al or Cr;
x=0.0 to 1.0;
y=0.0 to 2.5; and
z=0.0 to 1.0.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A system for controlled release of hydrogen from a hydrogen-absorbing material comprising:
a bed comprising a plurality of the multi-functional composite nanoparticles of claim 1; and
an energy source in non-contact communication with the multi-functional composite nanoparticles, wherein the energy source is configured to emit an alternating magnetic field in the non-contact communication.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a hydrogen source upstream of the bed, wherein the hydrogen source is a source of the first isotope of hydrogen and the second isotope of hydrogen.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a hydrogen collection or hydrogen combustion facility downstream of the bed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the energy source is configured to vary the alternating magnetic field.

### Claim 12

A multi-functional nanoparticle for hydrogen storage or separation and controlled hydrogen release comprising:
a plasmonic nanoparticle having a size of from about 1 nanometer to about 500 nanometers; and
a nanosized particle having a size of from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers deposited on a surface of the plasmonic nanoparticle and in thermal contact with the plasmonic nanoparticle, the nanosized particle comprising a reversible metal hydride that forms a first interstitial hydride with a first isotope of hydrogen and that forms a second interstitial hydride with a second isotope of hydrogen, wherein the first isotope of hydrogen is released from the first interstitial hydride at a first release condition and the second isotope of hydrogen is released from the second interstitial hydride at a second, different release condition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 12, wherein the plasmonic nanoparticle is in the shape of a sphere, a tube, a ring, or a rod.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 12, the reversible metal hydride comprising palladium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, zinc, or vanadium.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 12, wherein the metal hydride has a compositional formula of:
A1-xMxT5-y-zByCz,
wherein:
A=La;
M=La, Pr, Nd or Ce;
T=Ni;
B=Co;
C=Mn, Al or Cr;
x=0.0 to 1.0;
y=0.0 to 2.5; and
z=0.0 to 1.0.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The multi-functional nanoparticle of claim 12, the plasmonic nanoparticle comprising gold, platinum, silver, copper, and/or aluminum.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

A system for controlled release of hydrogen from a hydrogen-absorbing material comprising:
a bed comprising a plurality of the multi-functional composite nanoparticles of claim 12; and
an energy source in non-contact communication with the multi-functional composite nanoparticles, wherein the energy source is configured to emit an electromagnetic wave in the non-contact communication.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising a hydrogen source upstream of the bed, wherein the hydrogen source is a source of the first isotope of hydrogen and the second isotope of hydrogen.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising a hydrogen collection or hydrogen combustion facility downstream of the bed.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the energy source is configured to emit an electromagnetic wave in the near infra-red or visible spectrum.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the energy source is configured to vary the emission of the electromagnetic wave.