Hydrogen Desorption exceeding ten weight percent from the new quaternary hydride Li3BN2H8

Mobile applications of hydrogen power have long demanded new solid hydride materials with large hydrogen storage capacities. We report synthesis of a new quaternary hydride having the approximate composition Li3BN2H8 with 11.9 wt % theoretical hydrogen capacity. It forms by reacting LiNH2 and LiBH4 powders in a 2:1 molar ratio either by ball milling or by heating the mixed powders above 95 degreesC. This new quaternary hydride melts at similar to190 degreesC and releases greater than or equal to 10 wt % hydrogen above similar to250 degreesC. A small amount of ammonia (2-3 mol % of the generated gas) is released simultaneously. Preliminary calorimetric measurements suggest that hydrogen release is exothermic and, hence, not easily reversible.