TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The organic molecules comprise linear molecules. The linear molecules extend radially outward from the exterior surface of the nanowire. They comprise alkane chains.The organic molecules are -(CH2)n-CH3, -(CH2)n-C-((CH2)m-CH3)3, equivalent toSi-(CH2)n-CH3, equivalent toSi-(CH2)n-C-((CH2)m-CH3)3, (-O)3equivalent toSi-R, -(CH2)nC=C-(CH2)m-CH3, -(CH2)nC=C-(CH2)m-C=C-(CH2)k-CH3, -(CH2)nC=C-((CH2)m-CH3)3, -(CH2)nCequivalent toC-(CH2)m-CH3, -(CH2)nCequivalent toC-CH2-CH2=CH2-(CH2)m-Cequivalent toC-CH3, -(CH2)n, and/or -Cequivalent toC-((CH2)m-CH3)3. The gas molecules to be stored comprise hydrogen molecules. The organic molecules are adapted to releasably hold the gas molecules through physisorption. They are from linear alkanes, branched alkanes, cycloalkanes, substituted alkanes, linear alkynes, branched alkynes, cycloalkynes, and/or substituted alkynes.R = alkane; andk, m, n = positive integers.Preferred Process: The attachment of organic molecules to the exterior surface of the nanowire comprises oxidizing the exterior surface of the nanowire if necessary to provide an oxide surface, introducing and hydrolyzing the organic molecules or their precursors, condensing the hydrolyzed organic molecules or their precursors on the oxide surface, causing hydrogen bonding of the organic molecules, and causing bond formation to attach the organic molecules to the exterior surface of the nanowire.The physisorbing of gas molecules into organic molecules comprises providing a flow of gas at a suitable pressure and temperature, and exposing the nanowire and organic molecules to the flow of gas. The releasing of gas molecules from organic molecules comprises providing an exhaust path at a suitable pressure and temperature, and heating the organic molecules if necessary to release the gas.The heating of organic molecules if necessary to release the gas is performed by, passing current through the nanowire.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The nanowire comprises silicon.