Improved hydrogen storage performance of the LiNH2-MgH2-LiBH4 system by addition of ZrCo hydride

Significant improvements in the hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of the 2LiNH(2)-1.1MgH(2)-0.1LiBH(4) composite have been achieved by adding 3wt% ZrCo hydride. The composite can absorb 5.3wt% hydrogen under 7.0 MPa hydrogen pressure in 10 min and desorb 3.75wt% hydrogen under 0.1 MPa H-2 pressure in 60 min at 150 degrees C, compared with 2.75wt% and 1.67wt% hydrogen under the same hydrogenation/dehydrogenation conditions without the ZrCo hydride addition, respectively. TPD measurements showed that the dehydrogenation temperature of the ZrCo hydride-doped sample was decreased about 10 degrees C compared to that of the pristine sample. It is concluded that both the homogeneous distribution of ZrCo particles in the matrix observed by SEM and EDS and the destabilized N-H bonds detected by IR spectrum are the main reasons for the improvement of H-cycling kinetics of the 2LiNH(2)-1.1MgH(2)-0.1LiBH(4) system. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.