AlH3 (alane) is considered as an ideal one-off compact hydrogen storage material thanks to its high storage capacity and moderate decomposition temperature. However, application has been hindered by the lack of direct hydrogen reversibility, i.e. regeneration of AlH3 directly from the reaction of spent Al with hydrogen under mild conditions. Herein, we investigated the effect of nanoconfinement on the properties of AlH(3 )and the potential of this approach toward the direct release and uptake of hydrogen by nanosized Al. AlH(3 )was confined within the mesopores of a high surface area graphite (HSAG). The decomposition of the nanoconfined AlH(3 )was detected 50 degrees C lower than the bulk, showing some effect of nanoconfinement on the overall temperature for hydrogen release. Some hydrogen uptake was also observed at 150 degrees C and 60 bar hydrogen pressure, and this indicates that reversible release of hydrogen with alane under moderate conditions of pressure and temperature may be possible. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.