Boron Compounds as Hydrogen Storage Materials

Abstract

Hydrogen exhibits the highest heating value per mass of all chemical fuels. Furthermore, hydrogen is regenerative and environmentally friendly. Hence, hydrogen storage is very important for humans. Hydrogen storage in metal hydrides is considered as one of the most attractive methods. In the present work, the hydrogen absorption-desorption behavior of the boron compounds has been compared. We present recent developments in the search for hydrogen-storage capacity of boron. Boron compounds have a very high energy density, much better than that of liquid hydrogen and also a lot safer. LiBH₄ is a complex hydride that consists of 18 mass% of hydrogen. It has stability compared with other chemical hydrides and an easy conversion to H₂. Thus, there are a good many reasons that hydrogen-storage materials for LiBH₄ will be used in the future at many ranges for power sources. The future warrants further investigations of the B-H system from the viewpoint of hydrogen energy storage.

Keywords:

• boron
• hydrogen
• hydrogen storage
• lithium boron hydride