%A Reguera, E. %D 2009 %T Hydrogen Storage in Nanocavities %B 2009 %9 %! Hydrogen Storage in Nanocavities %K %X Hydrogen, because of its large combustion heat, 572 kJ/mol, three times that of gasolines, and an environmentally compatible byproduct, water, is being considered as an alternative to fossil fuels derivatives; particularly in vehicular applications. The application of hydrogen as combustible in mobile technologies involves three challenges: the production from the water splitting, for instance; the availability of a reversible, safe and economically viable storage method; and its use through appropriate fuel cells where the chemical energy is directly transformed in electricity. Nature practically has no free H 2 . From this fact, H 2 must be produced. It is a secondary energy bearer, not a primary source like petroleum. The storage is probably the main of these challenges because H 2 has very low critical temperature (Tc = 32.97 K) and at ordinary temperatures it is supercritical gas. The H 2 liquefaction is possible when the strength for the H 2 -H 2 interactions (of van der Waals and quadrupole-quadrupole type) surpasses the thermal energy (kT). This suggests the possibility of be able the H 2 storage at temperatures above Tc through a strong H 2 -surface interaction in solids of extended surface, layered or nanoporous materials, for instance. In this contribution the possible H 2 - surface interactions that could be present in such storage method and their relative contributions to the H 2 adsorption energy in materials of extended surface are discussed. The role of these interactions is dicussed from experimental results on H 2 in nanocavities. The state of art and perspectives on this storage method are also evaluated. %U https://revistacubanadefisica.org/index.php/rcf/article/view?path= %J Revista Cubana de FĂ­sica %0 Journal Article %& 3 %P 12 %V 26 %N 1 %@ 2224-7939 %8 2009-06-05 %7 2009-06-11