Tuning the reaction mechanism and hydrogenation/dehydrogenation properties of 6Mg(NH2)2single bond9LiH system by adding LiBH4

Abstract

The hydrogen storage properties of 6Mg(NH2)2single bond9LiH-x(LiBH4) (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2) system and the role of LiBH4 on the kinetic behaviour and the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation reaction mechanism were herein systematically investigated. Among the studied compositions, 6Mg(NH2)2single bond9LiHsingle bond2LiBH4 showed the best hydrogen storage properties. The presence of 2 mol of LiBH4 improved the thermal behaviour of the 6Mg(NH2)2single bond9LiH by lowering the dehydrogenation peak temperature nearly 25 °C and by reducing the apparent dehydrogenation activation energy of about 40 kJ/mol. Furthermore, this material exhibited fast dehydrogenation (10 min) and hydrogenation kinetics (3 min) and excellent cycling stability with a reversible hydrogen capacity of 3.5 wt % at isothermal 180 °C. Investigations on the reaction pathway indicated that the observed superior kinetic behaviour likely related to the formation of Li4(BH4)(NH2)3. Studies on the rate-limiting steps hinted that the sluggish kinetic behaviour of the 6Mg(NH2)2single bond9LiH pristine material are attributed to an interface-controlled mechanism. On the contrary, LiBH4-containing samples show a diffusion-controlled mechanism. During the first dehydrogenation reaction, the possible formation of Li4(BH4)(NH2)3 accelerates the reaction rates at the interface. Upon hydrogenation, this ‘liquid like’ of Li4(BH4)(NH2)3 phase assists the diffusion of small ions into the interfaces of the amide-hydride matrix.