Development of Mg-Li-B based advanced material for onboard hydrogen storage solution

Lithium borohydride-magnesium hydride (LiBH4-MgH2) reactive composite has been considered as one of the potential candidate for energy storage in the form of hydrogen because of its high hydrogen storage capacity. The composite requires high temperature (>500 degrees C) to dehydrogenate above 80% of its theoretical hydrogen storage capacity due to kinetic constraints. Therefore, a suitable catalyst is required to lower the dehydrogenation temperature. In this regard, the catalytic effect of ZrC14 on the dehydrogenation of LiBH4 MgH2 reactive composite has been studied. It was found that the apparent activation energy of dehydrogenation decreases considerably followed by reduction in onset dehydrogenation temperature. The X-ray diffraction analysis of dehydrogenated composite has shown two phase of Mg-Li intermetallics. The formation of Mg-Li intermetallic phases eventually increases the amount of hydrogen release and, it could be beneficial during rehydrogenation. Moreover, dehydrogenation of catalyzed MgH2-LiBH4 favors the formation of MgB2 under mild conditions. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.