In 1996, R. T. K. Baker, and N. M. Rodriguez claimed to have synthesized a new type of carbon nanofiber material capable of storing large amounts of hydrogen at room temperature and pressures above 100 bar, thus making it a powerful candidate for a very efficient energy storage system in mobile applications. Consequently, many scientists all over the world tried to test and verify these findings, however, with partly inconsistent results. We present here for the first time independent hydrogen storage measurements for several types of nanofibers, both synthesized by our group following precisely the specifications given in the literature as well as original samples supplied by Rodriguez and Baker for this study. The hydrogen storage capacities at room temperature and pressures up to 140 bar were quantified independently by gravimetric and volumetric methods, respectively. No significant hydrogen storage capacity has been detected for all carbon nanofibers investigated.

Silicon nanoparticles have been prepared by many methods, depending on whether porous, amorphous, or crystalline silicon is required. The advantages of the novel solid–gas chemical reaction reported here are that large amounts can be produced in a convenient way, the particles have a very narrow size range, and there is enormous potential for modification of the size and surface of the particles. Details of the synthesis via reaction of lanthanum or LaCl3 with a gaseous mixture of silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen, together with the subsequent characterization of the product, are presented.

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