Dehydrogenation/rehydrogenation mechanism in aluminum destabilized lithium borohydride

LiBH4/Al mixtures with various mol ratios were prepared by ball milling. The hydrogen storage properties of the mixtures were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry analyses coupled with mass spectrometry measurements. The phase compositions and chemical state of elements for the LiBH4/Al mixtures before and after hydrogen desorption and absorption reactions were assessed via powder x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Dehydrogenation results revealed that LiBH4 could react with Al to form AlB2 and AlLi compounds with a two-step decomposition, resulting in improved dehydrogenation. The rehydrogenation experiments were investigated at 600 degrees C with various H-2 pressure. It was found that intermediate hydride was formed firstly at a low H-2 pressure of 30 atm, while LiBH4 could be reformed completely after increasing the pressure to 100 atm. Absorption/desorption cycle results showed that the dehydrogenation temperature increased and the hydrogen capacity degraded with the increase of cycle numbers.