Metal hydrides (MH_x) provide a promising solution for the requirement to store large amounts of hydrogen in a future hydrogen-based energy system. This requires the design of alloys which allow for a very high H/M ratio. Transition metal hydrides typically have a maximum H/M ratio of 2 and higher ratios can only be obtained in alloys based on rare-earth elements. In this study we demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, that a high entropy alloy of TiVZrNbHf can absorb much higher amounts of hydrogen than its constituents and reach an H/M ratio of 2.5. We propose that the large hydrogen-storage capacity is due to the lattice strain in the alloy that makes it favourable to absorb hydrogen in both tetrahedral and octahedral interstitial sites. This observation suggests that high entropy alloys have future potential for use as hydrogen storage materials.

The hydrogen adsorption capacity and heat of adsorption at 77 K have been evaluated for several porous metal terephthalate MOFs (MIL-53(Fe), MIL-125(Ti) and UiO-66(Zr)), as well as in their –NH₂ and –(CF₃)₂ functionalized isoreticular structures. The capacity of hydrogen is basically related to the textural properties of the solids and not to their composition. The heats of adsorption at low coverage are on the whole close to those usually reported for MOFs (6–7 kJ mol⁻¹), except for the UiO-66(Zr) and MIL-53(Fe)-(CF₃)₂ analogues, whereas the presence of Lewis acid sites and/or a confinement effect enhances significantly the strength of interaction with hydrogen.