Mechanical Strain as an Emerging Design Parameter for Next-Generation Hydrogen Storage Materials

Abstract: Hydrogen storage remains a major obstacle for the implementation of hydrogen-based energy systems, which challenges the material science to search for materials with improved capacity, thermodynamics, and kinetics. Mechanical strain has emerged as a promising yet unexplored design parameter for tuning hydrogen-material interactions at the atomic scale. This paper reviews hydrogen storage materials from a strain-engineering perspective, examining how tensile and compressive strain influence adsorption energies, diffusion behaviour, and structural stability. Most studied material classes, including metal hydrides, metal–organic frameworks, carbon-based systems, and low-dimensional materials, are discussed alongside representative case studies demonstrating enhanced performance under strain. By consolidating recent insights and identifying critical challenges, this work highlights mechanical strain as a viable and scalable strategy for the design of next-generation hydrogen storage materials.

Keywords: Hydrogen storage; Mechanical strain; Strain engineering; Energy materials; Adsorption kinetics.