Spear and shield in the design of cream-type MgH2 for hydrolytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Hydrolytic hydrogen production materials, particularly MgH₂, have garnered extensive attention for their high hydrogen storage capacity and environmental benefits. Highly active MgH₂ has better hydrolysis properties, but is also more prone to oxidative deactivation during storage, which has a great impact on its practical application. To address this contradiction between hydrolysis activity and storage stability, we developed a polymer coated cream-type MgH₂. The novel designed MgH₂ cream maintains air stability while enabling controllable hydrolysis upon mixing with polyethylene glycol, achieving a final hydrogen yield of 1440 mL/g, with only an 8.2% reduction after 12 h of air exposure. Furthermore, the MgH₂ cream simplifies storage, enhances safety, and supports diverse applications, which provides a practical and innovative pathway for advancing hydrolytic hydrogen production technologies.