Alternative Energy Materials Boron-based Hydrogen Storage

For more than a decade, hydrogen as an alternative to traditional (fossil) energy sources has been in the focus of research and development efforts in all technologically advanced countries. It is strongly believed that hydrogen can help to address the growing demand for energy and slow down global climate change.¹ 

Boron belongs to a class of elements that can bind significant amounts of hydrogen and release it under mild experimental conditions. Currently, boron-based materials can store up to 19% hydrogen by weight and release it at the temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 400 °C or upon chemical treatment.^2-5 

Research related to boron based hydrogen storage involves three major groups of materials. The first group contains complex alkali and alkali earth boron hydrides such as lithium, sodium and calcium borohydrides (Table 1).³ The second group is based on the complex of a simple borane, BH₃, and ammonia, which is known as ammonia borane H₃N-BH₃ (Table 1).²

Finally, the third group of boron-based materials includes a variety of composites prepared from boron and lightweight metal hydrides or amides such as magnesium hydride (Prod. No. 683043)⁴ and lithium amide (Prod. No. 686050).⁵

Boron-based materials offered by Aldrich Materials Science are designed to meet requirements for hydrogen storage research.

Table 1.  Boron-based materials for hydrogen storage applications.

Name	Formula	Prod. No.
Borane-ammonia complex, 97%	H3N-BH3	682098
Calcium borohydride	CaBH4	695254
Lithium borodeuteride, ≥95%	LiBD4	685917
Lithium borohydride hydrogen-storage grade, 90+%	LiBH4	686026
Sodium borohydride hydrogen-storage grade, 98%	NaBH4	686018

To see our complete listing in the hydrogen storage area, including newly introduced products and other related materials, please visit www.sigma-aldrich.com/hydrogen.

References
1. Balema, V.P. Material Matters, 2.2., 2 (2007).
2. Karkamkar, A.; Aardahl, C.; Autrey, T. Material Matters, 2.2., 62 (2007).
3. Soloveichik, G.L. Material Matters, 2.2., 11 (2007).
4. Johnson, S. R., et al. Chem. Commun., 2823 (2005).
5. Sudik, A., et al. J. Phys. Chem. C. 112, 4384 (2005).