Graphene for Hydrogen Storage

[Excerpt; the whole abstract is available at pages V-VII ]: The ever dwindling supply of fossil fuels and the unsustainable growing demand for energy due to worldwide improvements in the quality of life has induced significant increases in fuel prices across the globe. This in turn has lead to research in alternative energy; solar, wind, biofuels, etc. The choice of alternative energy will depend on the specific use and the resources available in the vicinity. One attractive possibility is hydrogen, the third most abundant element available on Earth [1]. However, hydrogen is often found in compounds such as water and must be extracted. The production or extraction of pure hydrogen is an energy consuming process which still requires extensive research to optimize the production methods. Hydrogen is what is called an energy vector meaning that it can be used to store and transport energy. Using only hydrogen and oxygen, hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity with water being the only by-product. The hydrogen energy cycle is sustainable and does not release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the environment. However, one of the main hurdles facing a hydrogen based energy economy is hydrogen storage. Hydrogen is a gas at room temperature and pressure, a considerable hindrance to engineering applicable storage devices. Ample funding and research has been allocated to finding and implementing a safe, cheap, nontoxic, and compact method of storing and releasing hydrogen. [...]