Advanced carbons in hydrogen

Carbon fibre is the dominant advanced carbon in hydrogen, primarily as the structural overwrap of Type IV composite pressure vessels, the 700-bar tanks used in fuel cell electric vehicles, tube trailers and stationary storage. A polymer liner provides the hydrogen barrier while a filament-wound carbon fibre and epoxy overwrap, typically T700 or T800 grade, carries the hoop and axial loads that contain the gas. The overwrap is the largest single cost in the tank, at roughly 60 to 70% of the total.

Graphite is the standard material for proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell bipolar plates, distributing gases and conducting electrons with low corrosion, and moulded composite plates run about 60% lighter than steel. Carbon nanotubes and graphene are being explored as high-surface-area supports for platinum catalyst in electrolysers, improving catalyst use and durability, and as sub-nanometre barrier layers in future tank designs. Carbon fibre also appears in hydrogen pipeline repair wraps and offshore delivery infrastructure.

The market for Type IV carbon fibre hydrogen tanks was valued at about $1.25 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at roughly 12.3% a year to 2032. The total hydrogen storage tank market, spanning all tank types, was worth about $1.9 billion in 2024 and is growing at around 14.3% annually to 2034. Alternative energy, which includes hydrogen storage and wind, accounted for about 27% of carbon fibre demand in 2025, and pressure vessels are the fastest-growing carbon fibre application.