International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.33, No.9, 2268-2272, 2008
Effects of catalysts doping on the thermal decomposition behavior of Zn(BH4)(2)
Transition metal complex borohydrides, Zn(BH4)(2) have been synthesized by solid-state mechanochernical process. Various catalysts such as TiCl3, TiF3, nanoNi, nanoFe, Ti, nanoTi, and Zn were used to dope the borohydride in order to lower the decomposition temperature in the range of 50-100 degrees C, without a significant reduction in the hydrogen content per total weight of the sample. in addition, the structural, bonding and thermal characteristics of undoped and catalysts doped Zn(BH4)(2) were compared and analyzed to find out the optimum catalyst and dopant concentration. Among the different catalysts, 1.5 mol% of nanoNi obtained from Quantum Sphere Inc. was found to possess the optimum behavior in terms of fast kinetics and lowering the melting and decomposition temperature of Zn(BH4)(2). (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:zinc borohydrides;hydrogen storage;mechanochemical synthesis;thermogravimetric analysis;complex hydrides;dehydrogenation;catalyst doping