Baotou Research Institute Advances Rare Earth Hydrogen Storage Research as China Targets New Energy Markets

Highlights

• Over 20 Chinese researchers presented hydrogen-materials research at the October 2024 Chinese Society of Rare Earths conference in Suzhou.
• Lanthanum-based alloys store 1.2–1.4% hydrogen by weight, limiting vehicle use but showing promise for stationary and industrial applications.
• China could integrate rare earth processing, alloy manufacturing, and hydrogen equipment into embedded supply chains before Western alternatives emerge.
• Machine learning is being applied to discover alloy compositions with improved hydrogen capacity, cycle life, and operating efficiency.
• Western manufacturers are urged to evaluate alternative suppliers before Chinese hydrogen storage systems become entrenched in purchasing networks.