Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs): A Safe and Efficient Solution for Hydrogen Storage and Transportation

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) present a promising solution for the safe and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen. These carriers, ideally with low flammability and toxicity, remain in a liquid state at ambient temperatures, simplifying their handling and transport. LOHCs can be easily transported to fuel stations, where they can be stored indefinitely. At the station, catalytic dehydrogenation releases hydrogen from the LOHC, ready to fuel vehicles or support industrial applications. For transportation, LOHCs can be directly loaded onto hydrogen vehicles. Onboard catalytic dehydrogenation then produces hydrogen gas to power the vehicle's fuel cell. The spent fuel, ideally in liquid form, is then transported to a hydrogenation facility. Here, hydrogen from renewable sources regenerates the spent fuel back into the charged LOHC, creating a closed-loop system. This reversible LOHC system, based on catalytic dehydrogenation and hydrogenation, is poised to make significant contributions to the growing hydrogen economy.