IP Library Granted Patent US 8,124,559
Granted Patent B2
US 8,124,559 · App. 12/575,557 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Destabilized and catalyzed borohydride for reversible hydrogen storage

Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; U.S. Department of Energy
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,124,559
App. No.
12/575,557
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a borohydride material of the formula: M(BH 4 ) x where M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing an alanate material of the formula: M 1 (AlH 4 ) x where M 1 is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing a halide material of the formula: M 2 Hal x where M 2 is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or transition metal and Hal is a halide and 1≦x≦4; combining the borohydride, alanate and halide materials such that 5 to 50 molar percent from the borohydride material is present forming a reaction product material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the alanate material.

Claims (25)

1. A process of forming a hydrogen storage material comprising the steps of:

providing a borohydride material of the formula: M(BH 4 ) x where M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2;

providing an alanate material of the formula: M 1 (AlH 4 ) x where M 1 is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2;

providing a halide material of the formula: M 2 Hal x where M 2 is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or transition metal and Hal is a halide and 1≦x≦4;

combining the borohydride, alanate and halide materials such that 5 to 50 molar percent from the borohydride material is present forming a reaction product material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the alanate material wherein the reaction product includes a partially substituted borohydride metal cation with the alanate metal cation, or a partially substitute borohydride metal cation with the metal from the halide material and the alanate metal cation.

2. The process of claim 1 including the step of ball milling the borohydride, alanate and halide materials prior to the step combining the materials.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the borohydride and alanate materials are milled to a particle size of from about 50 to 100 nanometers.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction product material reversibly stores hydrogen.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein when the reaction product material is rehydrided, and the reaction product material thereafter reversibly releases at least about 6 wt % hydrogen.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the borohydride material is selected from the group consisting of: lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, and combinations thereof.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of: magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein M 2 Hal x is selected from the group consisting of MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , SrCl 2 , BaCl 3 , ZrCl 4 , TiCl 3 and combinations thereof.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein M 1 (AlH 4 ) x is selected from the group consisting of LiAlH 4 , NaAlH 4 , and Mg(AlH 4 ) 2 .

10. A process of forming a hydrogen storage material comprising the steps of:

providing a borohydride material of the formula: M(BH 4 ) x where M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2;

providing an alanate material of the formula: M 1 (AlH 4 ) x where M 1 is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2;

providing a halide material of the formula: M 2 Hal x where M 2 is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or transition metal and Hal is a halide and 1≦x≦4;

combining the borohydride, alanate and halide materials such that 5 to 50 molar percent from the borohydride material is present, the alanate and halide materials reacting in situ forming a second alanate material of the formula M 2 (AlH 4 )x;

the borohydride, alanate, halide and second alanate materials forming a reaction product material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the second alanate material wherein the reaction product includes a partially substituted borohydride metal cation with the alanate metal cation, or a partially substitute borohydride metal cation with the metal from the halide material and the alanate metal cation.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the reaction product material reversibly stores hydrogen.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein when the reaction product material is rehydrided, and the reaction product material thereafter reversibly releases at least about 6 wt % hydrogen.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the borohydride material is selected from the group consisting of: lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, and combinations thereof.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of: magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and mixtures thereof.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein M 2 Hal x is selected from the group consisting of MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , SrCl 2 , BaCl 3 , ZrCl 4 , TiCl 3 and combinations thereof.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein M 1 (AlH 4 ) x is selected from the group consisting of LiAlH 4 , NaAlH 4 , and Mg(AlH 4 ) 2 .

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027882/0897 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 27, 2011
From: SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 025715/0085 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2009
From: GRAY, JOSHUA; ZIDAN, RAGAIY; STOWE, ASHLEY C.
To: SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 023350/0533 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2009
From: MOHTADI, RANA F.; SIVASUBRAMANIAN, PREMKUMAR
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 023343/0480 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation In Part 11130750 · May 17, 2005
Continuation In Part 12035710 · Feb 22, 2008
Continuation In Part 12485373 · Jun 16, 2009
Continuation In Part 11130750
Provisional Application 60605177 · Aug 27, 2004
Related Publication 20100090162A1 · Apr 15, 2010