Hydrogen is in the spotlight as an alternative next generation energy source for the replacement of fossil fuels because it has high specific energy density and emits almost no pollution, with zero CO2 emission. In order to use hydrogen safely, reliable storage and transportation methods are required. Recently, solid hydrogen storage systems using metal hydrides have been under extensive development for application to fuel cell vehicles and fuel cells of MCFC and SOFC. For the practical use of hydrogen on a commercial basis, hydrogen storage materials should satisfy several requirements such as 1) hydrogen storage capacity of more than 6.5wt.% H2, moderate hydrogen release temperature below 100˚C, 3) cyclic reversibility of hydrogen absorption/desorption, 4) non toxicity and low price. Among the candidate materials, Li based metal hydrides are known to be promising materials with high practical potential in view of the above requirements. This paper reviews the characteristics and recent R&D trends of Li based complex hydrides, Li-alanates, Li-borohydrides, and Li-amides/imides.

Electricity is generated by the combined reactions of hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction which occur on the Pt/C catalyst surface. There have been lots of researches to make high performance catalysts which can reduce Pt utilization. However, most of catalysts are synthesized by wet-processes and a significant amount of chemicals are emitted during Pt/C synthesis. In this study, Pt/C catalyst was produced by arc plasma deposition process in which Pt nano-particles are directly deposited on carbon black surfaces. During the process, islands of Pt nano-particles were produced and they were very fine and well-distributed on carbon black surface. Compared with a commercialized Pt/C catalyst (Johnson & Matthey), finer particle size, narrower size distribution, and uniform distribution of APD Pt/C resulted in higher electrochemical active surface area even at the less Pt content.

The influence of sulfate on the selective catalytic reduction of on the Ag/ catalyst was studied when was used as a reducing agent. Various preparation methods influenced differently on the activity. Among the methods, cogelation precipitation gave best activity. When sulfates were formed on the surfaces of samples prepared by impregnated and deposition precipitation, activity was enhanced as long as suitable forming condition is satisfied. The major sulfate formed in Ag/ catalyst was the aluminum sulfate and it seems that this sulfate acted as a promoter. When Mg was added to the Ag/ catalyst it promoted activity at high temperature. Intentionally added sulfate also enhanced activity, when their amount was confined less than 3 wt%.