A multifaceted approach to hydrogen storage

Stable and metastable crystal structures and ammonia dynamics in strontium chloride ammines

Metal halide ammines are promising ammonia storage materials due to their high ammonia densities and suitable decomposition properties. Here, we studied the polymorphism of ammines with a general formula of Sr(NH3)nCl2 (n = 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8) by combining the Fast and Flexible CrystAl Structure Predictor (FFCASP) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Furthermore, the lattice stability and the minimum energy paths for bulk and surface diffusion of NH3 were investigated by performing phonon and nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations. In addition to the successful reproduction of the reported experimental crystal structures of octammine (Pnma (IT number 62)), diammine (Aem2 (IT number 39)) and monoammine (Cmcm (IT number 63)), several isoenergetic polymorphs for each phase were also found. Not only the experimentally determined octammine and monoammine structures, but also the proposed structures for the hexammine and tetrammine phases were found to be metastable. While phonon calculations show instability for the experimental diammine structure, some of the proposed structures for the diammine phase showed thermodynamical stability. Moreover, NEB paths examining the bulk and surface diffusion of NH3 are in accordance with the experimental desorption enthalpies.

Synthesis Method of Unsolvated Organic Derivatives of Metal Borohydrides

A new, scalable, wet-chemistry single-pot method of synthesising pure unsolvated organic derivatives of metal borohydrides is presented. The metathetic reaction in a weakly coordinating solvent is exemplified by the synthesis of [(n-C₄H₉)₄N][Y(BH₄)₄] and [Ph₄P][Y(BH₄)₄] systems. For the latter compound, the crystal structure was solved and described. Organic borohydride salts obtained by the new method can find various applications, e.g., can be used as precursors in synthesis of hydrogen-rich mixed-metal borohydrides-promising materials for solid-state chemical storage of hydrogen.

Efficient catalytic effect of the page-like MnCo2O4.5 catalyst on the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2

MnCo2O4.5 is decomposed into a variety of catalytically active substances during the de/hydrogenation process, which greatly promotes the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2.

Predicting hydrogen storage in MOFs via machine learning

The H2 capacities of a diverse set of 918,734 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) sourced from 19 databases is predicted via machine learning (ML). Using only 7 structural features as input, ML identifies 8,282 MOFs with the potential to exceed the capacities of state-of-the-art materials. The identified MOFs are predominantly hypothetical compounds having low densities (<0.31 g cm-3) in combination with high surface areas (>5,300 m2 g-1), void fractions (∼0.90), and pore volumes (>3.3 cm3 g-1). The relative importance of the input features are characterized, and dependencies on the ML algorithm and training set size are quantified. The most important features for predicting H2 uptake are pore volume (for gravimetric capacity) and void fraction (for volumetric capacity). The ML models are available on the web, allowing for rapid and accurate predictions of the hydrogen capacities of MOFs from limited structural data; the simplest models require only a single crystallographic feature.

Incorporation of expanded organic cations in dysprosium(III) borohydrides for achieving luminescent molecular nanomagnets

Luminescent single-molecule magnets (SMMs) constitute a class of molecular materials offering optical insight into magnetic anisotropy, magnetic switching of emission, and magnetic luminescent thermometry. They are accessible using lanthanide(III) complexes with advanced organic ligands or metalloligands. We present a simple route to luminescent SMMs realized by the insertion of well-known organic cations, tetrabutylammonium and tetraphenylphosphonium, into dysprosium(III) borohydrides, the representatives of metal borohydrides investigated due to their hydrogen storage properties. We report two novel compounds, [n-Bu4N][DyIII(BH4)4] (1) and [Ph4P][DyIII(BH4)4] (2), involving DyIII centers surrounded by four pseudo-tetrahedrally arranged BH4- ions. While 2 has higher symmetry and adopts a tetragonal unit cell (I41/a), 1 crystallizes in a less symmetric monoclinic unit cell (P21/c). They exhibit yellow room-temperature photoluminescence related to the f-f electronic transitions. Moreover, they reveal DyIII-centered magnetic anisotropy generated by the distorted arrangement of four borohydride anions. It leads to field-induced slow magnetic relaxation, well-observed for the magnetically diluted samples, [n-Bu4N][YIII0.9DyIII0.1(BH4)4] (1@Y) and [Ph4P][YIII0.9DyIII0.1(BH4)4] (2@Y). 1@Y exhibits an Orbach-type relaxation with an energy barrier of 26.4(5) K while only the onset of SMM features was found in 2@Y. The more pronounced single-ion anisotropy of DyIII complexes of 1 was confirmed by the results of the ab initio calculations performed for both 1-2 and the highly symmetrical inorganic DyIII borohydrides, α/β-Dy(BH4)3, 3 and 4. The magneto-luminescent character was achieved by the implementation of large organic cations that lower the symmetry of DyIII centers inducing single-ion anisotropy and separate them in the crystal lattice enabling the emission property. These findings are supported by the comparison with 3 and 4, crystalizing in cubic unit cells, which are not emissive and do not exhibit SMM behavior.

FFCASP: A Massively Parallel Crystal Structure Prediction Algorithm

A new algorithm called Fast and Flexible CrystAl Structure Predictor (FFCASP) was developed to predict the structure of covalent and molecular crystals. FFCASP is massively parallel and able to handle more than 200 atoms in the unit cell (in other terms, it allows global optimization around 100 individual parameters). It uses a global optimizer specialized for Crystal Structure Prediction (CSP) which combines particle swarm and simulated annealing optimizers. Three different molecular crystals, including diverse intermolecular interactions, namely, cytosine, coumarin, and pyrazinamide, have been selected to evaluate the performance of FFCASP. While cytosine polymorphs have been searched by employing two different force fields (a DFT-SAPT based intermolecular potential and generalized amber force field (GAFF)) up to Z = 16, only GAFF has been used both in coumarin and pyrazinamide polymorph searches up to Z = 4. For these three molecular crystals, FFCASP generated more than 20 000 crystal structures, and the unique ones have been further treated by DFT-D3. A combination of data mining and a machine learning approach was introduced to determine the unique structures and their distribution into different clusters, which ultimately gives an opportunity to retrieve the common features and relations between the resulting structures. There are two known experimental crystal structures of cytosine, and both were successfully located with FFCASP. Two of the reported crystal structures of coumarin have been reproduced. Similarly, in pyrazinamide, three known experimental structures have been rediscovered. In addition to finding the experimentally known structures, FFCASP also located other low-energy structures for each considered molecular crystals. These successes of FFCASP offer the possibility to discover the polymorphic nature of other important molecular crystals (e.g., drugs) as well.

Synthesis, Polymorphism and Thermal Decomposition Process of (n-C4H9)4NRE(BH4)4 for RE = Ho, Tm and Yb

In total, three novel organic derivatives of lanthanide borohydrides, n-But₄NRE(BH₄)₄ (TBAREB), RE = Ho, Tm, Yb, have been prepared utilizing mechanochemical synthesis and purified via solvent extraction. Studies by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD and PXRD) revealed that they crystalize in two polymorphic forms, α- and β-TBAREB, adopting monoclinic (P2₁/c) and orthorhombic (Pnna) unit cells, previously found in TBAYB and TBAScB, respectively. Thermal decomposition of these compounds has been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) measurements, along with the analysis of the gaseous products with mass spectrometry (MS) and with analysis of the solid decomposition products with PXRD. TBAHoB and TBAYbB melt around 75 °C, which renders them new ionic liquids with relatively low melting points among borohydrides.

Nanostructured Metal Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage

Knowledge and foundational understanding of phenomena associated with the behavior of materials at the nanoscale is one of the key scientific challenges toward a sustainable energy future. Size reduction from bulk to the nanoscale leads to a variety of exciting and anomalous phenomena due to enhanced surface-to-volume ratio, reduced transport length, and tunable nanointerfaces. Nanostructured metal hydrides are an important class of materials with significant potential for energy storage applications. Hydrogen storage in nanoscale metal hydrides has been recognized as a potentially transformative technology, and the field is now growing steadily due to the ability to tune the material properties more independently and drastically compared to those of their bulk counterparts. The numerous advantages of nanostructured metal hydrides compared to bulk include improved reversibility, altered heats of hydrogen absorption/desorption, nanointerfacial reaction pathways with faster rates, and new surface states capable of activating chemical bonds. This review aims to summarize the progress to date in the area of nanostructured metal hydrides and intends to understand and explain the underpinnings of the innovative concepts and strategies developed over the past decade to tune the thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen storage reactions. These recent achievements have the potential to propel further the prospects of tuning the hydride properties at nanoscale, with several promising directions and strategies that could lead to the next generation of solid-state materials for hydrogen storage applications.

New hydrogen-rich ammonium metal borohydrides, NH4[M(BH4)4], M = Y, Sc, Al, as potential H2 sources

Three metal-ammonium borohydrides, NH4[M(BH4)4] M = Y, Sc, Al, denoted 1, 2, 3, respectively, were prepared via a low temperature mechanochemical synthesis and characterized using PXRD, FTIR and TGA/DSC/MS. The compounds 1 and 2 adopt the P21/c space group while the compound 3 crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell (Fddd). The first decomposition step of all three derivatives of ammonium borohydride has the maximum rate at 48 °C, 53 °C and 35 °C for 1, 2 and 3, respectively, which are comparable to that for NH4BH4 (53 °C). The thermal decomposition of these metal-ammonium borohydrides is a multistep process, with predominantly exothermic low-temperature stages. The compound 1 decomposes via known Y(BH4)3, however, some of the solid decomposition products of the other two compounds have not been fully identified. In the system containing compound 2, a new, more dense polymorph of the previously reported LiSc(BH4)4 has been detected as the intermediate of slow decomposition at room temperature.

Towards Versatile and Sustainable Hydrogen Production through Electrocatalytic Water Splitting: Electrolyte Engineering

Recent advances in power generation from renewable resources necessitate conversion of electricity to chemicals and fuels in an efficient manner. Electrocatalytic water splitting is one of the most powerful and widespread technologies. The development of highly efficient, inexpensive, flexible, and versatile water electrolysis devices is desired. This review discusses the significance and impact of the electrolyte on electrocatalytic performance. Depending on the circumstances under which the water splitting reaction is conducted, the required solution conditions, such as the identity and molarity of ions, may significantly differ. Quantitative understanding of such electrolyte properties on electrolysis performance is effective to facilitate the development of efficient electrocatalytic systems. The electrolyte can directly participate in reaction schemes (kinetics), affect electrode stability, and/or indirectly impact the performance by influencing the concentration overpotential (mass transport). This review aims to guide fine-tuning of the electrolyte properties, or electrolyte engineering, for (photo)electrochemical water splitting reactions.

Lithium-Decorated Borospherene B40: A Promising Hydrogen Storage Medium

The recent discovery of borospherene B₄₀ marks the onset of a new kind of boron-based nanostructures akin to the C₆₀ buckyball, offering opportunities to explore materials applications of nanoboron. Here we report on the feasibility of Li-decorated B₄₀ for hydrogen storage using the DFT calculations. The B₄₀ cluster has an overall shape of cube-like cage with six hexagonal and heptagonal holes and eight close-packing B₆ triangles. Our computational data show that Li_m&B₄₀(1-3) complexes bound up to three H₂ molecules per Li site with an adsorption energy (AE) of 0.11-0.25 eV/H₂, ideal for reversible hydrogen storage and release. The bonding features charge transfer from Li to B₄₀. The first 18 H₂ in Li₆&B₄₀(3) possess an AE of 0.11-0.18 eV, corresponding to a gravimetric density of 7.1 wt%. The eight triangular B₆ corners are shown as well to be good sites for Li-decoration and H₂ adsorption. In a desirable case of Li₁₄&B₄₀-42 H₂(8), a total of 42 H₂ molecules are adsorbed with an AE of 0.32 eV/H₂ for the first 14 H₂ and 0.12 eV/H₂ for the third 14 H₂. A maximum gravimetric density of 13.8 wt% is achieved in 8. The Li-B₄₀-nH₂ system differs markedly from the previous Li-C₆₀-nH₂ and Ti-B₄₀-nH₂ complexes.

Organic derivatives of Mg(BH4)2 as precursors towards MgB2 and novel inorganic mixed-cation borohydrides

A series of organic derivatives of magnesium borohydride, including Mg(BH4)2·1.5DME (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) and Mg(BH4)2·3THF (THF = tetrahydrofuran) solvates and three mixed-cation borohydrides, [Cat]2[Mg(BH4)4], [Cat] = [Me4N], [nBu4N], [Ph4P], have been characterized. The phosphonium derivative has been tested as a precursor for synthesis of inorganic mixed-metal borohydrides of magnesium, Mx[Mg(BH4)2+x], M = Li-Cs, via a metathetic method. The synthetic procedure has yielded two new derivatives of heavier alkali metals M3Mg(BH4)5 (M = Rb, Cs) mixed with amorphous Mg(BH4)2. Thermal decomposition has been studied for both the organic and inorganic magnesium borohydride derivatives. Amorphous MgB2 has been detected among the products of the thermal decomposition of the solvates studied, together with organic and inorganic impurities.

Salts of highly fluorinated weakly coordinating anions as versatile precursors towards hydrogen storage materials

We report the most recent results related to application of a metathetic pathway towards mixed-metal borohydrides. The synthetic protocol utilizes highly-fluorinated weakly coordinating anion salts as precursors. We discuss the technicalities related to the use of fluorine-rich anions as well as the improvements which are still needed to deliver high-purity materials with potential applications for hydrogen storage. The applicability of the method is expanded beyond the previously described complex borohydrides of alkali metal Zn or Y, towards the systems containing Mg(II), Sc(III), Mn(II), or Eu(III). We have prepared for the first time [Ph4P]2[Mn(BH4)4] and [Me4N]2[Mg(BH4)4], solved their crystal structures from powder x-ray diffraction, and used selected organic metal borohydride derivatives as precursors towards mixed-metal borohydrides (K2Mn(BH4)4, Rb3Mg(BH4)5, etc.). We have also prepared [Ph4P][Eu(BH4)4], which is the first derivative of Eu(III) in the homoleptic environment of borohydride anions.

In situ characterization of the decomposition behavior of Mg(BH4)2 by X-ray Raman scattering spectroscopy

We present an in situ study of the thermal decomposition of Mg(BH4)2 in a hydrogen atmosphere of up to 4 bar and up to 500 °C using X-ray Raman scattering spectroscopy at the boron K-edge and the magnesium L2,3-edges. The combination of the fingerprinting analysis of both edges yields detailed quantitative information on the reaction products during decomposition, an issue of crucial importance in determining whether Mg(BH4)2 can be used as a next-generation hydrogen storage material. This work reveals the formation of reaction intermediate(s) at 300 °C, accompanied by a significant hydrogen release without the occurrence of stable boron compounds such as amorphous boron or MgB12H12. At temperatures between 300 °C and 400 °C, further hydrogen release proceeds via the formation of higher boranes and crystalline MgH2. Above 400 °C, decomposition into the constituting elements takes place. Therefore, at moderate temperatures, Mg(BH4)2 is shown to be a promising high-density hydrogen storage material with great potential for reversible energy storage applications.

Facile synthesis and characterization of a reduced graphene oxide/halloysite nanotubes/hexagonal boron nitride (RGO/HNT/h-BN) hybrid nanocomposite and its potential application in hydrogen storage

The hydrogen storage performance of hybrid nanocomposites composed of reduced graphene oxide, acid treated halloysite nanotubes and hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles (RGO/A-HNT/h-BN) was studied.

Hydrogen Storage Materials for Mobile and Stationary Applications: Current State of the Art

One of the limitations to the widespread use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is its storage in a safe and compact form. Herein, recent developments in effective high-capacity hydrogen storage materials are reviewed, with a special emphasis on light compounds, including those based on organic porous structures, boron, nitrogen, and aluminum. These elements and their related compounds hold the promise of high, reversible, and practical hydrogen storage capacity for mobile applications, including vehicles and portable power equipment, but also for the large scale and distributed storage of energy for stationary applications. Current understanding of the fundamental principles that govern the interaction of hydrogen with these light compounds is summarized, as well as basic strategies to meet practical targets of hydrogen uptake and release. The limitation of these strategies and current understanding is also discussed and new directions proposed.

Synthesis and unique reversible splitting of 14-membered cyclic aminomethylphosphines on to 7-membered heterocycles

A novel type of 14-membered cyclic polyphosphine, namely 1,8-diaza-3,6,10,13-tetraphosphacyclotetradecanes 2a–4ahas been synthesized by the condensation of 1,2-bis(phenylphosphino)ethane, formaldehyde and alkylamines (isopropylamine, ethylamine and cyclohexylamine) as a RRRR/SSSS-stereoisomer. The structure of macrocycle 2a was investigated by NMR-spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The unique reversible processes of macrocycles 2a–4a splitting onto the corresponding rac- (2b–4b) and meso- (2c–4c) stereoisomers of 1-aza-3,6-diphosphacycloheptanes were discovered.

C60-decorated CdS/TiO2 mesoporous architectures with enhanced photostability and photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution

Fullerene (C60) enhanced mesoporous CdS/TiO2 architectures were fabricated by an evaporation induced self-assembly route together with an ion-exchanged method. C60 clusters were incorporated into the pore wall of mesoporous CdS/TiO2 with the formation of C60 enhanced CdS/TiO2 hybrid architectures, for achieving the enhanced photostability and photocatalytic activity in H2 evolution under visible-light irradiation. Such greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance and photostability could be due to the strong combination and heterojunctions between C60 and CdS/TiO2. The as-formed C60 cluster protection layers in the CdS/TiO2 framework not only improve the light absorption capability, but also greatly accelerated the photogenerated electron transfer to C60 clusters for H2 evolution.

Facile formation of thermodynamically unstable novel borohydride materials by a wet chemistry route

A novel wet synthetic method utilizing weakly coordinating anions that yields LiCl-free Zn-based materials for hydrogen storage has recently been reported. Here we show that this method may also be applied for the synthesis of the pure yttrium derivatives, M[Y(BH4)4] (M = K, Rb, Cs). Moreover, it can be extended to the preparation of previously unknown thermodynamically unstable derivatives, Li[Y(BH4)4] and Na[Y(BH4)4]. Importantly, these two H-rich phases cannot be accessed by standard dry (mechanochemical) or solid/gas synthetic methods due to the thermodynamic obstacles. Here we describe their crystal structures and selected important physicochemical properties.

M(BH3NH2BH2NH2BH3) – the missing link in the mechanism of the thermal decomposition of light alkali metal amidoboranes

We report a novel family of hydrogen-rich materials – alkali metal di(amidoborane)borohydrides, M(BH₃NH₂BH₂NH₂BH₃).

The Challenge of Storage in the Hydrogen Energy Cycle: Nanostructured Hydrides as a Potential Solution

Hydrogen has the capacity to provide society with the means to carry ‘green’ energy between the point of generation and the point of use. A sustainable energy society in which a hydrogen economy predominates will require renewable generation provided, for example, by artificial photosynthesis and clean, efficient energy conversion effected, for example, by hydrogen fuel cells. Vital in the hydrogen cycle is the ability to store hydrogen safely and effectively. Solid-state storage in hydrides enables this but no material yet satisfies all the demands associated with storage density and hydrogen release and uptake; particularly for mobile power. Nanochemical design methods present potential routes to overcome the thermodynamic and kinetic hurdles associated with solid state storage in hydrides. In this review we discuss strategies of nanosizing, nanoconfinement, morphological/dimensional control, and application of nanoadditives on the hydrogen storage performance of metal hydrides. We present recent examples of how such approaches can begin to address the challenges and an evaluation of prospects for further development.

Energy partitioning in single-electron transfer events between gaseous dications and their neutral counterparts

Electron-transfer reactions between hydrocarbon dications and neutral hydrocarbons lead to an unequal deposition of the excess energy from the reaction in the pair of monocations formed. The initial observation of this phenomenon was explained by the different states accessible upon single-electron capture by a dication compared to single-electron ejection from a neutral compound. Alternatively, however, isomeric structures of the dicationic species, pronounced Franck-Condon effects, as well as excess energy in the dicationic precursors could cause the asymmetric energy partitioning in such dication/neutral collisions. Here, the investigation of this phenomenon in an interdisciplinary cooperation is described, shedding light not only upon a possible solution of the problem at hand, but also providing an example for the synergistic benefits of international research networks applying complementary approaches.