Abstract: Materials based on nanoporous inorganic network materials and associated devices and methods for solid state storage of hydrogen and other gases are capable of greater storage capacity with improved availability of stored gases. Coated active oxide networks such as TiO2 and SiO2 aerogels as network materials are coated with selected inorganic catalytic materials and/or high gas storage capacity materials. A variety of coated nanoporous inorganic network materials are disclosed with material formulas X—Y; X being an inorganic coating, including one or more of nanoparticles, layered structure materials and intercalated materials; and Y being the inorganic nanoparticle network. At least one of the network and the coating comprises a catalyst for enhanced sorption of a gas to be stored, such as hydrogen.