Polymeric hydrogen diffusion barrier, high-pressure storage tank so equipped, method of fabricating a storage tank and method of preventing hydrogen diffusion

A method of preventing hydrogen from diffusing out of a storage tank, comprising:

• providing a storage tank comprising:
• a polymer substrate bonded to a reinforcement structure;
• and
• an electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier, comprising:
• an anode layer and a cathode layer each comprising a polymer material that is permeable to hydrogen;
• an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer and comprising a polymer material that is conductive to protons and substantially impermeable to hydrogen;
• wherein the anode layer, the cathode layer and the electrolyte layer are conformably bonded to the polymer substrate;
• a voltage source operably coupled to the anode layer and the cathode layer;
• and
• a catalytic material proximate an interface of at least one of the anode layer and the cathode layer and the electrolyte layer;
• filling the storage tank with hydrogen at a pressure in excess of one atmosphere;
• and
• transporting any hydrogen that diffuses outwardly through the electrolyte layer back to the storage tank using the electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier.