High-capacity hydrogen storage in lithium and sodium amidoboranes
Journal
Nature materials
Journal Volume
7
Journal Issue
2
Pages
138
Date Issued
2008-02
Author(s)
Xiong, Zhitao
Wu, Guotao
Chen, Ping
Shaw, Wendy
Karkamkar, Abhi
Autrey, Thomas
Jones, Martin Owen
Johnson, Simon R
Edwards, Peter P
David, William I F
Abstract
The safe and efficient storage of hydrogen is widely recognized as one of the key technological challenges in the transition towards a hydrogen-based energy economy. Whereas hydrogen for transportation applications is currently stored using cryogenics or high pressure, there is substantial research and development activity in the use of novel condensed-phase hydride materials. However, the multiple-target criteria accepted as necessary for the successful implementation of such stores have not yet been met by any single material. Ammonia borane, NH3BH3, is one of a number of condensed-phase compounds that have received significant attention because of its reported release of approximately 12 wt% hydrogen at moderate temperatures (approximately 150 degrees C). However, the hydrogen purity suffers from the release of trace quantities of borazine. Here, we report that the related alkali-metal amidoboranes, LiNH2BH3 and NaNH2BH3, release approximately 10.9 wt% and approximately 7.5 wt% hydrogen, respectively, at significantly lower temperatures (approximately 90 degrees C) with no borazine emission. The low-temperature release of a large amount of hydrogen is significant and provides the potential to fulfil many of the principal criteria required for an on-board hydrogen store.
Subjects
AMMONIA BORANE DEHYDROGENATION; N-H COMPOUNDS; THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION; HYDRIDES; RELEASE; AMIDES; B-11; NMR
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Type
journal article