Frontier materials and methods for hydrogen storage toward sustainable energy applications

Hydrogen storage remains a critical challenge for the widespread deployment of hydrogen-based technologies. Two main approaches can be identified: physical storage, where hydrogen is stored by itself in molecular form, and materials-based storage, where hydrogen is bonded to a host material. While physical methods such as compressed or liquid hydrogen are quite technologically mature approaches, materials-based systems are less developed although they offer the potential for safer and more efficient operation at moderate temperatures and pressures. This review provides a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary analysis of hydrogen storage materials focusing on their performance under near-ambient operating conditions. In particular, this work systematically explores diverse material families, with special attention given to emerging and less conventional materials that represent the forefront of current research, alongside advanced formulations of more established compounds that are still, however, at an early stage of development. The analysis includes metal-organic frameworks, carbon allotropes, MXenes, glass structures, zeolites, covalent and porous organic frameworks, and metal hydrides, which are evaluated in terms of their potential for practical hydrogen storage applications. By correlating intrinsic material properties with application-oriented operating conditions, this review offers a unique perspective bridging materials science and energy systems engineering, providing valuable insights for the design of next-generation hydrogen storage technologies aimed at enabling safe, efficient, and scalable hydrogen utilization.