H2/CO2 hybrid foams for enhanced subsurface hydrogen storage and carbon sequestration

This research introduces a pioneering H2/CO2 hybrid foam (a foam system containing both hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases) technology aimed at enhancing hydrogen storage in geological formations while simultaneously sequestering CO2. Through a series of experiments and simulations, the study investigates the foam's potential to increase the viscosity of hydrogen in subsurface environments, thus improving storage efficiency and sweep efficacy. The experiments demonstrate CO2's ability to significantly reduce gas-liquid interfacial tension, a prerequisite for stable foam formation, and reveal the foam's capacity to regulate hydrogen flow by establishing a blocking effect in porous media. The introduction of hydrogen to CO2 foam is shown to form a hybrid foam, verified by experimental observation and simulation, which enhances hydrogen storage by delaying breakthrough. Additionally, the foam's behavior in porous media, including its propagation and interaction with geological features, is elucidated through simulation, emphasizing CO2's role in trapping mechanisms that support efficient hydrogen production. Overall, the study confirms that the H2/CO2 hybrid foam can effectively store hydrogen and sequester CO2, presenting an innovative dual-function solution with significant implications for clean energy storage and carbon management in the fight against climate change.