Rubidium hydride catalyzed alloys
A catalyzed metal hydride alloy is disclosed, which includes lithium amide and magnesium hydride and rubidium hydride is the catalyst. A method of making the metal hydride alloy includes combining rubidium hydride with lithium amide and magnesium hydride in a vessel to form a mixture and mechanically milling the mixture. A method of manufacturing rubidium hydride is also disclosed which includes milling rubidium metal in a vessel pressurized with hydrogen gas at an initial minimum rotation rate and increasing the rotation rate to a maximum rotation rate, alternating between periods of milling and rest, re-pressurizing the vessel with hydrogen during the rest periods, and incubating the contents of the vessel.
1. A metal hydride alloy comprising magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ), lithium amide (LiNH 2 ), and at least one catalyst, wherein the at least one catalyst includes rubidium hydride (RbH).
2. The metal hydride alloy of claim 1 having a molar ratio of total moles of RbH and LiNH 2 to MgH 2 in a range of 1.8:1 to 2.2:1.
3. The metal hydride alloy of claim 1 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 1 mol % of the metal hydride alloy.
4. The metal hydride alloy of claim 1 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 2 mol % of the metal hydride alloy.
5. The metal hydride alloy of claim 1 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 3 mol % of the metal hydride alloy.
6. A hydrogen storage system comprising a vessel containing a metal hydride alloy according to claim 1 .
7. A vehicle comprising the hydrogen storage system according to claim 6 .
8. A method of making the metal hydride alloy of claim 1 comprising combining magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ) and lithium amide (LiNH 2 ) and at least one catalyst in a vessel to form a mixture and mechanically milling the mixture, wherein the at least one catalyst includes rubidium hydride (RbH).
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the mixture has a molar ratio of total moles of RbH and LiNH 2 to MgH 2 in a range of 1.8:1 to 2.2:1.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 1 mol % of the mixture.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 2 mol % of the mixture.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the RbH comprises at least 3 mol % of the mixture.