The paper makes a comparison and reveals the common and distinctive features in the energy supply of the two major Arctic powers–Russia and Canada. The paper analyzes the problem of reliable power supply to remote consumers of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and Canada's Arctic territories with their consumers in the form of communities and mining enterprises. The existing energy supply for the Arctic consumers has been considered and the main problems associated with this situation have been revealed. Regions with centralized and decentralized energy supply are identified. It was found that in most remote settlements, the only reliable source of electricity today is diesel power plants (and hydroelectric power plants in Canada). The negative factors of this way of energy supply are air and noise pollution of surrounding areas, fire hazard, high fuel consumption as well as the probability of spilling diesel fuel during its transportation. These factors are mainly due to the fact that in the Arctic zone either outdated or end-of-life equipment is used. One of the solutions to the problem of reliable electricity supply can be the use of renewable energy sources, in particular solar energy because the one is the most promising, widely distributed and clean source of energy. The paper describes the experience of operating solar modules in the Arctic part of Russia and Canada and gives the most reliable power supply scheme for these territories. The paper analyzes the factors affecting the generation of electricity from solar modules. The main conclusions are drawn on the problem of the operation of solar modules in a wide range of characteristics and the need for adaptation of the modules to the conditions of the Arctic climate.

The article deals with the safe design of the hydrogen storage tank, which includes a set of cylindrical metal containers made of stainless steel 12Х18Н10Т filled with carbon nanotubes; a cooling jacket made of liquid nitrogen in the likeness of a Dewar vessel into which metal containers with carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are dipped and filled with gaseous hydrogen; a system of valves and high-pressure pipelines. The safety of hydrogen storage is ensured by the high strength and toughness of steel at low temperatures, from which metal storage tanks of hydrogen are made. The main advantage of such accumulator tank scheme is safety in case of mechanical damages: when any object is inserted into a storage tank, the liquid nitrogen cooling jacket is damaged first, the inner wall of which is made of thin gauge stainless steel, the outer wall is made of aluminum alloy and the main energy of the impact is expended. The article analyzes the scheme of the experiment and shows the results of the study of hydrogen storage at a liquid nitrogen temperature: hydrogen under high pressure of 15 MPa is pumped into a pre-cooled accumulator tank completely filled with SWNTs. Further operations are cutting off the storage tank from the mains with a shut-off valve; cutting off the cylinder with hydrogen from the pipeline supplying; the opening of a drain valve for bleeding hydrogen; heating the storage tank to the normal temperature; bleeding of sorbed hydrogen and measuring its volume. Hydrogen at the temperature of liquid nitrogen is confirmed to be retained by the SWNT in the accumulator tank, and at normal temperature to be released. The Nobel Laureate of R. Smalley first determined this in the 20th century. The article presents the data of microscopic (Phenom Pro microscope) and sorption studies of SWNT conglomerates of scaly structure.

The interaction of gaseous hydrogen isotopes from the gas phase with proton-conducting oxides with the perovskite structure La_1−xSr_xScO_3−α (x = 0; 0.04) was studied by means of the hydrogen isotope exchange with gas phase equilibration in the temperature range T = 300−800 ºC and in hydrogen pressure range pH₂ = 2−20 mbar. A novel kinetic model for the hydrogen isotope exchange experimental data treatment taking into account the isotopic effects was developed. This model was implemented for the obtained experimental results. The heterogeneous exchange rates of hydrogen isotopes with investigated oxides La_1−xSr_xScO_3−α (x = 0; 0.04) were calculated. The mole fractions of hydrogen isotopes were determined for the investigated materials. It was found that deuterium uptake is higher in comparison with protium, whereas the deuterium surface exchange coefficient for the proton-conducting oxide La_0.96Sr_0.04ScO_3–α is smaller in comparison with the protium surface exchange coefficient. The thermodynamic isotope effect can be caused by the difference of energy of zero-point oscillations between OH- and OD-defects and molecular H₂ and D₂. The kinetic isotope effect can be explained by the different strength of OH and OD bonds. The rate determining stage of hydrogen exchange is shown to be the process of exchange between the forms of hydrogen in the gas phase and in the adsorption layer of the proton-conducting oxide (the stage of dissociative hydrogen adsorption). For the first time, a new statistical criterion is proposed that allows dividing the observed surface inhomogeneities caused by not only the natural surface roughness but also the presence of different isotopes of hydrogen (protium and deuterium) with different binding energies on a solid surface. The activity of the investigated proton-conducting oxides with respect to the hydrogen heterogeneous exchange is comparable to the heterogeneous hydrogen exchange activity for oxides based on cerates and zirconates of alkaline earth metals. High catalytic activity with respect to the process of hydrogen exchange from the gas phase in reducing atmospheres allows us to consider the proton-conducting oxides based on the lanthanum scandates as the very promising electrolytes for numerous electrochemical applications.

The paper deals with synthesis and studies the materials with high ionic conductivity on the basis of which the various electrochemical devices are created: gas sensors, electrolyzers, devices for dosed supply of hydrogen and water vapor, etc. Interest in the study of the physicochemical properties of oxide proton conductors is due to the phenomenon of proton transfer in a solid body when hydrogen is not a structural unit of the compound. The LaScO₃ based materials are considered promising because of the high bulk conductivity at low temperature, chemical stability and mechanical strength in comparison with the well-known proton electrolytes based on cerates and zirconates of alkaline-earth elements. A comparative analysis of the properties of the proton solid electrolyte La_1-xSr_xScO_3-α (x = 0.05, 0.10) synthesized by various methods is carried out. A version of the combustion method without the use of nitrates as initial materials leading to the production of ceramics with a density of not less than 98% with respect to the theoretical was developed. Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative study was carried out by X-ray phase analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and atomic emission spectroscopy at various stages of synthesis. The structural parameters of the La_0.9Sr_0.1ScO_3–α oxide is refined using the method of X-ray diffraction full-profile Rietveld analysis. Thermal expansion and electrical conductivity were studied as a function of the temperature and humidity of the gas phase for La_1-xSr_xScO_3-α (x = 0.05, 0.10) materials of different densities in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. The composition of the atmosphere (dry and wet air, wet H₂) is found out to have little effect on thermal expansion below 600°C. The separation of the bulk and grain boundary conductivities by the impedance method is carried out. Both conductivities are proven to have the same activation energy for materials with a density of 94-98% relative to the theoretical one. The high porosity of the materials (30%) adversely affects the total conductivity, while the bulk conductivity is almost not reduced. The bridging model based on semicoherent boundaries that explain the low grain boundaries conductivity for proton electrolytes with a low-symmetry lattice was discussed. The data obtained from this work may be of interest to specialists in the field of hydrogen energy, electrochemistry, materials science and development of technology for electrochemical devices: sensors, power sources, fuel cells.

The paper deals with the topical issue of lunar exploration in connection with the projects to use of the Moon in the future energy. According to the latest data, the Earth's satellite is rich in helium-3, and water has been found on it in the form of ice. Lunar helium can be used as a thermonuclear fuel. Water is necessary to ensure the lunar base, and as a source for hydrogen production. These factors make the building lunar bases is actual task. The described activities require drilling operations to a depth of two to tens of meters. In order to study the internal structure of the Moon and to solve a number of scientific tasks, the paper suggests the use of reactive penetrators which are the penetrating probe-devices equipped with rocket engines solid fuel. The scientific tasks associate with the formation of wells in the lunar soil as well as delivery of the scientific equipment placed in the instrument compartment in a specified area of ground space and/or returning it to the soil surface. Based on data obtained by Russian and foreign expeditions to the Moon, the paper contains the main physical and mechanical properties of regolith. The physical characteristics of the lunar regolith are significantly different from the properties of the Earth's soil which is associated with other conditions of formation and existence of the top cover of our satellite, where there is a perfect vacuum, and water is completely absent. For example, the regolith has a high porosity and ability to seal, the adhesion and accumulation of electric charge. The high ability of particles of the lunar soil to adhesion contributes to a sharp increase of the friction forces and the power consumption needed for drilling in vacuum increases. The paper selects the nearest terrestrial analogs of lunar soil. The correct selection of model of the soil corroborates the results of the calculated and experimental depth of penetration obtained in laboratory conditions on the stand.

The paper deals with lithium (and its compounds) which is one of the promising materials used in hydrogen energy. Its individual and complex hydrides are used for storing and transporting hydrogen in hydrogen power plants. The paper compares the different methods of lithium extraction from natural raw materials. The main industrial techniques of processing spodumene and other lithium minerals are considered. Since the volumes of these mineral deposits in the world are limited, hydro-mineral raw materials gradually become the main source of lithium. The paper focuses on the analysis of methods for lithium containing hydromineralic raw materials processing. The paper indicates that at the first stage of lithium recovery (the production of its concentrates) there are the most commonly used the galurgical methods of concentrating and isolating lithium from natural brines. However, these methods are only applicable to rich natural lithium brines. Another method (the method of its deposition in the form of sparingly soluble compounds) is danger from the ecological point of view due to the large impact on these brines, and the problems of their further utilization. The sorption methods of lithium extraction, especially from poor in composition of natural and technological solutions, are more promising. In view of complexity of the salt composition of hydro-mineral raw materials, the use of highly selective inorganic ion-exchange materials is the most promising method for recovery of lithium too. In order to complete the general picture of lithium production, the paper analyzes the modern methods for obtaining metallic lithium and various lithium-containing compounds. Moreover, the paper describes the methods of reprocessing lithium carbonate into other compounds, as well as methods for obtaining lithium hydroxide and lithium chloride, and electrochemical and vacuum-thermal methods for obtaining metallic lithium. Furthermore, the methods of lithium refining and the need for processing secondary lithium resources are briefly considered.