International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.41, No.23, 9885-9892, 2016
Kinetics studies of the reversible partial decomposition reaction in Mg(BH4)(2)
Magnesium borohydride Mg(BH4)(2) is a promising candidate for hydrogen storage due to its high hydrogen content and theoretically predicted low decomposition temperature. Hydrogenation of the completely decomposed Mg(BH4)(2) requires high temperature, high H-2 pressure and long reaction time. However, the partially decomposed compound can be rehydrogenated in much milder conditions. In this work, we study the reversible intermediate decomposition reaction in Mg(BH4)(2). Gravimetric and volumetric measurements have shown that Mg(BH4)(2) released up to 6.8 wt% H-2 below 285 degrees C with the formation of amorphous MgBxHy intermediate(s), as found by infrared spectroscopic analysis. No crystalline decomposition reaction products were detected by powder X-ray diffraction. Rehydrogenation at 260-280 degrees C yielded 2.5 Wt% uptake and the formation of crystalline Mg(BH4)(2). Kinetics modeling suggested that the decomposition is a complex process with possibly several reactions which are limited mostly by diffusion. The rehydrogenation reaction was governed by the Johns-Mehl-Avrami model with the nucleation at a constant rate and diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.