Achieving a novel solvent-free regeneration of LiBH_(4) combining hydrogen storage and production in a closed material cycle

LiBH_(4) has been considered as one of the most promising energy storage materials with its ultrahigh hydrogen capacity,which can supply hydrogen through hydrolysis process or realize hydrogen-to-electricity conversion via anodic oxidation reaction of direct borohydride fuel cells(DBFCs).However,the realization of practical hydrogen applications heavily depends on the effective synthesis of high-purity LiBH_(4) and recycling of the spent fuels(LiBO_(2)·xH_(2)O).The present work demonstrates a convenient and high-efficiency solvent-free strategy for regenerating LiBH_(4) with a maximum yield close to 80%,by retrieving its by-products with MgH_(2) as a reducing agent under ambient conditions.Besides,the hydrogen released from the regeneration course can completely compensate the demand for consumed MgH_(2).The isotopic tracer method reveals that the hydrogen stored in LiBH_(4) comes from both MgH_(2) and coordinated water bound to LiBO_(2).Here,the expensive MgH_(2) can be substituted with the readily available and cost-effective MgH_(2)-Mg mixtures to simplify the regeneration route.Notably,LiBH_(4) catalyzed by CoCl_(2) can stably supply hydrogen to proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC),thus powering a portable prototype vehicle.By combining hydrogen storage,production and utilization in a closed cycle,this work offers new insights into deploying boron-based hydrides for energy applications.

Layered niobium carbide enabling excellent kinetics and cycling stability of Li-Mg-B-H hydrogen storage material Layered niobium carbide enabling excellent kinetics

The Li-Mg-B-H composite(2LiBH_(4)+MgH_(2))has a high capacity of 11.4 wt%as a hydrogen storage material.However,the slow kinetics and poor cycling stability severely restrict its practical applications.In this work,a layered Nb_(2)C MXene was first synthesized and then introduced to tailor the kinetics and cycling stability of the Li-Mg-B-H composite.The milled 2LiH+MgB_(2)composites were initially hydrogenated to obtain the 2LiBH_(4)+MgH_(2)composites.The 2LiBH_(4)+MgH_(2)+5wt%Nb_(2)C can release 9.0 wt%H_(2)in 30 min at 400℃,while it is only 2.7 wt%for the undoped 2LiBH_(4)+MgH_(2).The dehydrogenation activation energies of MgH_(2)and LiBH_(4)are 123 and 154 kJ·mol^(-1)respectively for the 5 wt%Nb_(2)C-doped composite,lower than the undoped composite(164 and 165 kJ·mol^(-1)).The 2LiBH_(4)+MgH_(2)+5 wt%Nb_(2)C possesses excellent cycling stability,with the reversible capacity only slightly reduced from 9.4 wt%for the 1st cycle to 9.3 wt%for the 20th cycle.Nb_(2)C keeps stable in the composite and acts as an efficient catalyst for the Li-Mg-B-H composite.It is believed that both the layered structure and the active Nb element contribu te to the enhanced hydrogen storage performances of the Li-Mg-B-H composite.This work confirms that the Nb_(2)C MXene with layered stru cture has a significant enhancing impact on the Li-Mg-B-H hydrogen storage materials,which is different from the bulk NbC.

Ion diffusion,and hysteresis of magnesium hydride conversion electrode materials

MgH_(2),owing to a high theoretical capacity of 2038 mAh g^(−1),is regarded as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).However,the application of MgH_(2) is still far from satisfactory due to its poor cycling stability.Herein,nano-crystallization of MgH_(2) as an anode is applied for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries(ASSLIBs)using LiBH4 as a solid-state electrolyte.The self-assembly designed MgH_(2) electrode on graphene could effectively alleviate the volume expansion,prevent the agglomeration of active substances,improve the electron transfer,and enhance the electrochemical performance of the anode material.As a result,a reversible capacity of 1214 mAh g^(−1) after 50 cycles is obtained.Significantly enhanced cycle life with a notable capacity of 597 mAh g^(−1) at a current density of 400 mA g^(−1) is delivered after 200 cycles.Further investigation on full cells also exhibits great application potential on ASSLIBs.

Hydrogen storage properties of Nb-compounds-catalyzed LiBH4-MgH2

In order to improve the hydrogen storage properties of LiBH4-MgH2 composite, two different kinds of Nb-based catalysts, NbC and NbF5, were added to LiBH4-MgH2 composite by ball milling, and the effect of catalysts on hydrogen storage properties of the modified LiBH4-MgH2 system was investigated. The experimental results show that LiBH4-MgH2 composite is a two-step dehydrogenation process, and Nb-based compounds can remarkably enhance its dehydrogenation kinetics. For the composite without addition of catalysts, the starting decomposition temperature for the first dehydrogenation step is around 320℃, and there is a long period of incubation time（around 220 min） for the occurrence of the second decomposition step even at high temperature of 450℃. It needs more than 10 h to complete the decomposition process and release around 9 wt% H2. After addition of 5 mol% NbF5, the starting decomposition temperature for the first dehydrogenation step is around 150℃, there is no incubation time for the second decomposition step, and it takes around 40 min to complete the second step and reaches a total dehydrogenation capacity of 9.5 wt%. NbF5 has better catalytic effect than NbC. Based on the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation behaviors and structural variation, the mechanism of catalytic effect was discussed.