Introduction

Abstract

The interaction of hydrogen with materials is a wide field of research. The simplicity of the hydrogen atom allows us to gain fundamental insights into crystal structures, phase transitions, diffusion, absorption, adsorption, and magnetism in hydrogen-containing metals. These insights could then be used to develop a variety of practical systems for the advancement of our society. One key example is the development of a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production and distribution systems. Hydrogen is a well-known energy carrier and could be a solution for some of our energy and environmental issues. Hydrogen can be generated from various primary energy sources, especially renewables such as thermal solar, photovoltaic, wind, and hydroelectricity. Hydrogen is the only fuel that can be converted to and from electricity easily, thus making it a potential partner with electricity in the global energy distribution system. As most renewable energy sources are intermittent, using hydrogen to store energy is an elegant and ecological solution. Therefore, hydrogen is expected to be used widely, along with electricity, as a major energy carrier by mid-twenty-first century.