Researchers Discover New Way to Store Hydrogen Using Lignin Jet Fuel

Scientists Discover Hydrogen Storage Breakthrough Using Lignin-Based Jet Fuel

An international team of scientists has discovered a way to store and release volatile hydrogen using lignin-based jet fuel, potentially opening new pathways for sustainable energy production.

In a new study published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Washington State University (WSU) Professor Bin Yang and colleagues demonstrated that a type of lignin-based jet fuel they developed can chemically bind hydrogen in a stable liquid form. The research has many potential applications in fuels and transportation and could ultimately make it easier to harness hydrogen’s potential as a high-energy and zero-emissions fuel source.

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"This new, lignin jet fuel-based technology could enable efficient, high-density hydrogen storage in an easy-to-handle sustainable aviation fuel, eliminating the need for pressurized tanks for storage and transport," said Bin Yang, Professor at Washington State University.

Addressing Hydrogen Storage Challenges

For the study, researchers at WSU, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), University of New Haven, and Natural Resources Canada set out to address one of the major challenges with using hydrogen as a fuel source. The lightest element's low density and explosive nature make storage and transport technically challenging, inefficient, and expensive.

The January 2025 article details how the research team discovered the new hydrogen-storing process using chemical reactions that produced aromatic carbons and hydrogen from lignin jet fuel—an experimental fuel developed by Yang's lab based on lignin, an organic polymer found in plants.

"Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that could help the U.S. meet its targets for zero-emission mobility, integration of renewables, and decarbonization of industry," said Yang.

New Applications for Lignin Jet Fuel

The discovery points to new uses for lignin jet fuel developed at WSU by Yang, who previously tested a new continuous process that creates the fuel from agricultural waste. Experiments have shown that the sustainably produced fuel could increase engine performance and efficiency while eliminating aromatics, the pollution-causing compounds found in conventional fuels.

"This innovation offers promising opportunities for compatibility with existing infrastructure and economic viability for scalable production," said Yang. "It could help create a synergistic system that enhances the efficiency, safety, and ecological benefits of both sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen technologies."

Next Steps in Research

Next, WSU researchers will collaborate with scientists at the University of New Haven to design an AI-driven catalyst that enhances and completes the reactions, making them more efficient and cost-effective.

Funding and Support

Funding for the work came from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and its Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.