New catalytic complexes for metal hydride systems

Catalysis is one of the critical factors in the improvement of hydrogen sorption kinetics in metal hydride systems. Effective catalysts, although usually added in small amounts, enable not only the practical performance of a hydride, but also provide an effective synthesis path for compounds that are otherwise inaccessible. In the search for efficient and inexpensive catalysts for hydrogen sorption reactions, a new type of catalytic compounds was developed. These catalytic complexes demonstrated remarkable potential in a variety of systems, including sodium alanates and magnesium, as well as in hydrogen generation through hydrolysis. These new complexes demonstrated their unique molecular configuration (shown by FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction) combined with nano-scale particle size. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.