Direct observation of hydrogen molecules adsorbed onto a microporous coordination polymer

Trapped hydrogen molecules in the nanochannels of a copper coordination polymer were successfully observed by the synchrotron powder-diffraction method. The adsorbed molecules are located near one corner of the rectangular nanochannels, and the pockets of the pore walls are suited to the size of the hydrogen molecules (see picture). These results could provide guidelines for the design of hydrogen-storage materials.