IP Library Granted Patent US 8,153,554
Granted Patent B2
US 8,153,554 · App. 11/940,651 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Reversible hydrogen storage materials

Assignee: University of South Carolina
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,153,554
App. No.
11/940,651
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a process for synthesis of a complex hydride material for hydrogen storage is provided. The process includes mixing a borohydride with at least one additive agent and at least one catalyst and heating the mixture at a temperature of less than about 600° C. and a pressure of H 2 gas to form a complex hydride material. The complex hydride material comprises MAl x B y H z , wherein M is an alkali metal or group IIA metal, Al is the element aluminum, x is any number from 0 to 1, B is the element boron, y is a number from 0 to 13, and z is a number from 4 to 57 with the additive agent and catalyst still being present. The complex hydride material is capable of cyclic dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation and has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 4 weight percent.

Claims (29)

1. A process for synthesis of a complex hydride material for hydrogen storage comprising:

mixing a borohydride with at least one additive agent and at least one catalyst; and

heating the mixture at a temperature of less than about 600° C. in the presence of an inert gas to form a complex hydride material comprising MAl x B y H z , wherein M is an alkali metal or group IIA metal, Al is the element aluminum, x is any number from 0 to 1, B is the element boron, y is a number from 0 to 13, and z is a number from 4 to 57, the additive agent and the catalyst still being present;

wherein the complex hydride material is capable of cyclic dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation and has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 4 weight percent.

2. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the borohydride comprises LiBH 4 , NaBH 4 , Mg(BH 4 ) 2 , Be(BH 4 ) 2 , KBH 4 , Al(BH 4 ) 3 , or combinations thereof.

3. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the additive agent or catalyst comprises an alkali hydride, aluminum, aluminum hydride, complex aluminum hydride, transition metal, transition metal compound, metal hydride, carbon material or combinations thereof.

4. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the additive agent comprises Al powder, AlH 3 , NaAlH 4 , LiAlH 4 , KAlH 4 , Mg(AlH 4 ) 2 , Be(AlH 4 ) 2 , Ca(AlH 4 ) 2 , Fe(AlH 4 ) 2 , Mn(AlH 4 ) 2 , Ti(AlH 4 ) 3 , Ti(AlH 4 ) 4 , Sn(AlH 4 ) 4 , Zr(AlH 4 ) 4 or combinations thereof.

5. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises Sc, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, or combinations thereof.

6. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises graphite, carbon nanostructures, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, carbon nanofibers, activated carbon, allotropes of carbon, or combinations thereof.

7. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature of less than about 500° C.

8. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 7 weight percent.

9. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 10 weight percent.

10. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 15 weight percent.

11. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the inert gas comprises argon.

12. A process as in claim 1 , further comprising dehydrogenating and rehydrogenating the complex hydride material, the complex hydride material being rehydrogenated in the presence of H 2 .

13. A process as in claim 12 , wherein rehydrogenation occurs at a pressure of less than about 150 bar of H 2 .

14. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the rehydrogenated complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 4 weight percent.

15. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the rehydrogenated complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 7 weight percent.

16. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the rehydrogenated complex hydride material has a hydrogen capacity of at least about 10 weight percent.

17. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the complex hydride material is rehydrogenated at a temperature of less than about 500° C.

18. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the complex hydride material is rehydrogenated at a temperature of less than about 400° C.

19. A process as in claim 12 , wherein the complex hydride material is rehydrogenated at a temperature of less than about 300° C.

20. A complex hydride material for cyclic dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation comprising:

MAl x B y H z wherein M is an alkali metal or group IIA metal, Al is the element aluminum, x is any number from 0 to 1, B is the element boron, y is a number from 0 to 13, and z is a number from 4 to 57 with at least one additive agent and at least one catalyst being present, such complex hydride material having a hydrogen capacity of at least about 4 weight percent and being capable of hydrogenation at temperatures of less than about 600° C.

21. A complex hydride material as in claim 20 , wherein hydrogenation is capable of occurring at a temperature of less that about 500° C.

22. A complex hydride material as in claim 20 , wherein hydrogenation is capable of occurring at less than about 150 bar of H 2 .

23. A complex hydride material as in claim 20 , wherein the hydrogen capacity is at least about 7 weight percent.

24. A complex hydride material as in claim 20 , wherein the additive agent comprises Al powder, AlH 3 , NaAlH 4 , LiAlH 4 , KAlH 4 , Mg(AlH 4 ) 2 , Be(AlH 4 ) 2 , Ca(AlH 4 ) 2 , Fe(AlH 4 ) 2 , Mn(AlH 4 ) 2 , Ti(AlH 4 ) 3 , Ti(AlH 4 ) 4 , Sn(AlH 4 ) 4 , Zr(AlH 4 ) 4 or combinations thereof.

25. A complex hydride material as in claim 20 , wherein the catalyst comprises graphite, carbon nanostructures, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, carbon nanofibers, activated carbon, allotropes of carbon, or combinations thereof.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 25, 2011
From: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
To: ENERGY, STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 025710/0076 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2008
From: RITTER, JAMES A.; WANG, TAO; EBNER, ARMIN D.; HOLLAND, CHARLES E.
To: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Reel/Frame 020765/0948 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 60859198 · Nov 15, 2006
Provisional Application 60920731 · Mar 29, 2007
Related Publication 20110218099A1 · Sep 8, 2011