South Korea Unveils Breakthrough in Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Technology

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) have just pulled off a world-first. On July 11, 2025, they unveiled a groundbreaking solid-state hydrogen storage material built from a Mg-20Ni-Sn alloy—and it could completely change the way we think about storing and transporting green hydrogen.

Hydrogen storage — no pressure, literally

What makes this new material such a big deal? Well, it stores hydrogen safely at normal atmospheric pressure. That means you can say goodbye to bulky high-pressure tanks and energy-hungry cryogenic setups. Instead, hydrogen gets locked away inside the alloy’s metal lattice, nice and secure.

The project, led by Dr. Young-Min Kim and Dr. Byeong-Chan Suh and backed by the National Research Foundation of Korea, also features an induction-heated release vessel for controlled hydrogen release, and a real-time monitoring system to keep everything running smoothly. In short — it’s smart, simple, and built to scale.

Cutting costs, cleanly

A major win here is affordability. The alloy is resistant to oxidation, skips the need for costly powder metallurgy, and slashes manufacturing costs by up to 90%. That’s a massive step forward in making hydrogen infrastructure more accessible and practical—not just for research labs, but for everything from electric vehicles to power grids.

Paving the road to industrial decarbonization

This isn’t just a cool new material—it’s a major player in the fight against climate change. The team’s innovation directly supports industrial decarbonization and ramps up momentum for a global green hydrogen economy. With easier, cheaper, and safer storage tech, countries like South Korea are positioned to lead the way in clean energy adoption, bringing us one step closer to a carbon-free future.

source: newswise