A microporous metal-organic framework MOF-5 [Zn4O(BDC)(3), BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic] was synthesized with and without H2O2 by improved methods based on the previous studies. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption, and their hydrogen storage capacities were measured. The synthesis experiments showed that H2O2 favored the growth of high quality sample, large pore volume and high specific surface area. The measurements of hydrogen storage indicated that the sample with higher specific surface area and large pore volume showed better hydrogen storage behavior than other samples. It was suggested that specific surface area and pore volume influenced the capacity of hydrogen storage for MOF-5 material. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.