Hydrogen Production, Purification, Storage, Transportation, and Their Applications: A Review

The world is looking for clean and green energy as substitution for fossil fuels to minimize the greenhouse effect and climate changes threatening our existence. Solar energy, wind energy, and hydrogen gas‐based energy are few examples of promising sources of energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Hydrogen gas‐based energy is in focus today due to its availability in plenty of combined forms such as water, hydrocarbons, natural gases, etc. However, its storage and transportation are major challenges due to the low volumetric density and explosive nature of hydrogen. The scientific community is in search of suitable, economically viable, and energy‐efficient storage systems and transportation of hydrogen gas. Based on numerous studies, surface adsorption of hydrogen by high surface area nanoporous solids such as carbon and metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based nanofiber materials are most suitable for storage applications. Electrospinning process provides a gateway for the preparation of lightweight, highly porous nanofibers for efficient hydrogen adsorption. Herein, the production and use of electrospun polymer nanofibers and MOFs for the storage and transportation of hydrogen are presented. This review describes various methods used for the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen, more particularly, its storage and transportation using nanofibrous media. Electrospun nanofibers are promising candidates for H2 storage at relatively low pressure due to their large surface area, high porosity, and interconnected pore structures. Various applications of hydrogen are also highlighted.