Stable Low-Pressure Hydrogen Clusters Stored in a Binary Clathrate Hydrate
Louw J. Florusse,1
Cor J. Peters,1
Joop Schoonman,2
Keith C. Hester,3
Carolyn A. Koh,3
Steven F. Dec,3
Kenneth N. Marsh,4
E. Dendy Sloan3*
Thermodynamic, x-ray diffraction, and Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements show that clusters of H2 can be stabilized and stored at low pressures in a sII binary clathrate hydrate. Clusters of H2 molecules occupy small water cages, whereas large water cages are singly occupied by tetrahydrofuran. The presence of this second guest component stabilizes the clathrate at pressures of 5 megapascals at 279.6 kelvin, versus 300 megapascals at 280 kelvin for pure H2 hydrate.
1 Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Chemical Technology, Physical Chemistry and Molecular Thermodynamics;
2 Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry, Delft Institute for Sustainable Energy; Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands.
3 Center for Hydrate Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
4 Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Private Bag 4800, New Zealand.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: esloan{at}mines.edu
