Improved hydrogen release from ammonia-borane with ZIF-8.

The promotion for hydrogen release from ammonia-borane (AB) was observed in the presence of ZIF-8. Even at concentrations of ZIF-8 as low as 0.25 mol %, a reduction of the onset temperature for dehydrogenation accompanies an increase in both the rate and amount of hydrogen released from AB.

Regeneration of ammonia borane spent fuel by direct reaction with hydrazine and liquid ammonia.

Ammonia borane (H(3)N-BH(3), AB) is a lightweight material containing a high density of hydrogen (H(2)) that can be readily liberated for use in fuel cell-powered applications. However, in the absence of a straightforward, efficient method for regenerating AB from dehydrogenated polymeric spent fuel, its full potential as a viable H(2) storage material will not be realized. We demonstrate that the spent fuel type derived from the removal of greater than two equivalents of H(2) per molecule of AB (i.e., polyborazylene, PB) can be converted back to AB nearly quantitatively by 24-hour treatment with hydrazine (N(2)H(4)) in liquid ammonia (NH(3)) at 40°C in a sealed pressure vessel.

Potassium(I) amidotrihydroborate: structure and hydrogen release.

Potassium(I) amidotrihydroborate (KNH(2)BH(3)) is a newly developed potential hydrogen storage material representing a completely different structural motif within the alkali metal amidotrihydroborate group. Evolution of 6.5 wt % hydrogen starting at temperatures as low as 80 degrees C is observed and shows a significant change in the hydrogen release profile, as compared to the corresponding lithium and sodium compounds. Here we describe the synthesis, structure, and hydrogen release characteristics of KNH(2)BH(3).

Mechanism of hydrogenation reaction in the Li-Mg-N-H system.

The Li-Mg-N-H system composed of 3 Mg(NH2)2 and 8 LiH reversibly desorbs/absorbs approximately 7 wt % of H2 at 120-200 degrees C and transforms into 4 Li2NH and Mg3N2 after dehydrogenation. In this work, the mechanism of the hydrogenation reaction from 4 Li2NH and Mg3N2 to 8 LiH and 3 Mg(NH2)2 was investigated in detail. Experimental results indicate that 4 Li2NH is first hydrogenated into 4 LiH and 4 LiNH2. At the next step, 4 LiNH2 decomposes into 2 Li2NH and 2 NH3, and the emitted 2 NH3 reacts with (1/2) Mg3N2 and produces the (3/2) Mg(NH2)2 phase, while the produced 2 Li2NH is hydrogenated into 2 LiH and 2 LiNH2 again. Such successive steps continue until all 4 Li2NH and Mg3N2 completely transform into 8 LiH and 3 Mg(NH2)2 by hydrogenation.