Promoted hydrogen release from ammonia borane with mannitol via a solid-state reaction route

Promoted hydrogen release from ammonia borane (NH(3)BH(3), AB) with mannitol (C(6)H(8)(OH)(6), MA) additive is reported. It is found that for the MA/2AB sample, the dehydrogenation temperature is lowered by ~25 °C compared to that of neat AB, the liberation of undesired byproduct borazine is suppressed, and the released ammonia can be removed by using anhydrous MgCl(2) as absorber. The analyses of Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and (11)B nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrate the breaking of B-N, B-H and O-H bonds and the formation of B-O bonds for the dehydrogenation process of MA/2AB. These results suggest a solid-state dehydrogenation reaction between AB and MA: the B-H(δ-) bonds in AB and the O-H(δ+) bonds in MA combine with each other to release H(2). Furthermore, the use of the perfect -OH carrier MA as additive leads to a straightforward understanding of the improved dehydrogenation of AB under the effect of hydroxyl groups in the solid state.     

Reactions of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane: catalytic effects for multiple pathways for hydrogen release

High-level electronic structure calculations have been used to construct portions of the potential energy surfaces related to the reaction of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane (B2H6 + NH3 and B2H6 + BH3NH3)to probe the molecular mechanism of H2 release. Geometries of stationary points were optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Total energies were computed at the coupled-cluster CCSD(T) theory level with the correlation-consistent basis sets. The results show a wide range of reaction pathways for H2 elimination. The initial interaction of B2H6 + NH3 leads to a weak preassociation complex, from which a B-H-B bridge bond is broken giving rise to a more stable H3BHBH2NH3 adduct. This intermediate, which is also formed from BH3NH3 + BH3, is connected with at least six transition states for H2 release with energies 18-93 kal/mol above the separated reactants. The lowest-lying transition state is a six-member cycle, in which BH3exerts a bifunctional catalytic effect accelerating H2 generation within a B-H-H-N framework. Diborane also induces a catalytic effect for H2 elimination from BH3NH3 via a three-step pathway with cyclic transition states. Following conformational changes, the rate-determining transition state for H2 release is approximately 27 kcal/mol above the B2H6 + BH3NH3 reactants, as compared with an energy barrier of approximately 37 kcal/mol for H2 release from BH3NH3. The behavior of two separated BH3 molecules is more complex and involves multiple reaction pathways. Channels from diborane or borane initially converge to a complex comprising the H3BHBH2NH3adduct plus BH3. The interaction of free BH3 with the BH3 moiety of BH3NH3 via a six-member transition state with diborane type of bonding leads to a lower-energy transition state. The corresponding energy barrier is approximately 8 kcal/mol, relative to the reference point H3BHBH2NH3 adduct + BH3. These transition states are 27-36 kcal/mol above BH3NH3 + B2H6, but 1-9 kcal/mol below the separated reactants BH3NH3 + 2 BH3. Upon chemical activation of B2H6 by forming 2 BH3, there should be sufficient internal energy to undergo spontaneous H2 release. Proceeding in the opposite direction, the H2 regeneration of the products of the B2H6 + BH3NH3reaction should be a feasible process under mild thermal conditions.     

Pyrolytic decomposition of ammonia borane to boron nitride

The thermal decomposition of ammonia borane was studied using a variety of methods to qualitatively identify gas and remnant solid phase species after thermal treatments up to 1500 °C. At about 110 °C, ammonia borane begins to decompose yielding H(2) as the major gas phase product. A two step decomposition process leading to a polymeric -[NH═BH](n)- species above 130 °C is generally accepted. In this comprehensive study of decomposition pathways, we confirm the first two decomposition steps and identify a third process initiating at 1170 °C which leads to a semicrystalline hexagonal phase boron nitride. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to identify the onset of the third step. Temperature programmed desorption-mass spectroscopy (TPD-MS) and vacuum line methods identify molecular aminoborane (H(2)N═BH(2)) as a species that can be released in appreciable quantities with the other major impurity, borazine. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to identify the chemical states present in the solid phase material after each stage of decomposition. The boron nitride product was examined for composition, structure, and morphology using scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Thermogravimetric Analysis-Mass Spectroscopy (TGA-MS) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to identify the onset temperature of the first two mass loss events.     

石墨型氮化碳对氨硼烷放氢性能的影响

利用石墨型氮化碳(C₃N₄)和氨硼烷(NH₃BH₃,AB)球磨制备了AB-C₃N₄体系,发现C₃N₄的加入使AB放氢反应温度明显降低,但是副产物氨气浓度有所升高. 因此,利用LiBH₄改性的C₃N₄(LC₃N₄)同AB球磨合成出了AB-LC₃N₄体系,并采用X射线衍射、程序升温脱附-质谱联用、热重-差热分析及核磁共振等技术考察了该体系的脱氢性能. 结果表明,由于LC₃N₄的加入,AB的放氢反应温度明显降低,放氢反应速率加快,放氢诱导期缩短,同时抑制了副产物无机苯的生成. 另外,C₃N₄的化学修饰也降低了AB-LC₃N₄放氢过程中生成氨气的浓度. 动力学分析和核磁共振结果表明,AB-LC₃N₄分解过程依然遵循NH₃BH₂NH₃BH₄诱导的氨硼烷自分解机理.     

Activation and diffusion of ammonia borane hydrogen on gold tetramers

One of the most serious candidates for safe storage of high hydrogen densities is ammonia borane, AB. Likewise, one of the most versatile catalysts known is gold in the form of atomic clusters. Taking these elements into account, in this work a density functional theory ‐based study about initial activation, detachment, and diffusion of ammonia borane hydrogen on gold tetramer, as a catalyst model, is developed. It was found that the total process is exergonic and that the hydrogen diffusion occurs with very low energy barriers. The process has a hydrogen detachment energy barrier lower than the one of the uncatalyzed AB, and that is easily overcome by the energy expelled in the previous stage of formation of the initial activated species. Additionally, all the process is assisted by the fluxionality of the gold cluster, and occurs via a unique catalytically activated initial species, which contains a three‐center simultaneous interaction at the catalytically activated zone.     

Polyoxometalates-engineered hydrogen generation rate and durability of Pt/CNT catalysts from ammonia borane

Heterogeneously catalyzed hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane is a remarkable structure sensitive reaction. In this work, a strategy by using polyoxometalates(POMs) as the ligands is proposed to engineer the surface and electronic properties of Pt/CNT catalysts toward the enhanced hydrogen generation rate and durability. Three kinds of POMs, i.e., silicotungstic acid(STA), phosphotungstic acid(PTA)and molybdophosphoric acid(PMA), are comparatively studied, among which the STA shows positive effects on the catalytic activity and durability. A catalyst structure-performance relationship is established by a combination of kinetic and isotopic analyses with multiple characterization techniques, such as HAADF-STEM, EDS, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. It is shown that the STA compared to the other two POMs can increase the Pt binding energy and thus promote the reaction. The insights demonstrated here could open a new avenue for boosting the reaction by employing the POMs as the ligands to engineer the catalyst electronic properties.     

Carbon dots-confined CoP-CoO nanoheterostructure with strong interfacial synergy triggered the robust hydrogen evolution from ammonia borane

Ammonia borane (NH3BH3,AB) is promising for chemical hydrogen storage;however,current systems for rapid hydrogen production are limited by the expensive noble m...     

Computational study of methyl derivatives of ammonia borane for hydrogen storage

The structures and thermodynamic properties of methyl derivatives of ammonia-borane (BH3NH3, AB) have been studied with the frameworks of density functional theory and second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory. It is found that, with respect to pure, methyl ammonia-boranes show higher complexation energies and lower reaction enthalpies for the release of H2, together with a slight increment of the activation barrier. These results indicate that the methyl substitution can enhance the reversibility of the system and prevent the formation of BH3/NH3, but no enhancement of the release rate of H2 can be expected.     

Silica hollow nanospheres as new nanoscaffold materials to enhance hydrogen releasing from ammonia borane

Silica hollow nanospheres (SHNS) are used as new nanoscaffold materials to confine ammonia borane (NH(3)BH(3), AB) for enhancing the dehydrogenation process. Different loading levels of AB in SHNS are considered and AB/4SHNS (with AB content of approximately 20 wt%) shows the best result. The onset temperature of the dehydrogenation of AB in SHNS is as low as 70 °C with the peak temperature at 99 °C and no other gases such as borazine and ammonia are detected. Furthermore, within 60 min at 85 °C, 0.53 equivalent of hydrogen is released and the activation energy is 97.6 kJ mol(-1). Through FT-IR, Raman spectrum and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, it is found that nanoconfinement effect combined with SiO-HH-B interaction is essential for the enhancement of hydrogen releasing.     

Materials for hydrogen storage: structure and dynamics of borane ammonia complex

The activation energies for rotations in low-temperature orthorhombic ammonia borane were analyzed and characterized in terms of electronic structure theory. The perdeuterated (11)B-enriched ammonia borane, (11)BD(3)ND(3), sample was synthesized, and the structure was refined from neutron powder diffraction data at 175 K. This temperature has been chosen as median of the range of previously reported nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements of these rotations. A representative molecular cluster model was assembled from the refined geometry, and the activation energies were calculated and characterized by analysis of the environmental factors that control the rotational dynamics. The barrier for independent NH(3) rotation, E(a) = 12.7 kJ mol(-1), largely depends on the molecular conformational torsion in the solid-state geometry. The barrier for independent BH(3) rotation, E(a) = 38.3 kJ mol(-1), results from the summation of the effect of molecular torsion and large repulsive intermolecular hydrogen-hydrogen interactions. However, a barrier of E(a) = 31.1 kJ mol(-1) was calculated for internally correlated rotation with preserved molecular conformation. Analysis of the barrier heights and the corresponding rotational pathways shows that rotation of the BH(3) group involves strongly correlated rotation of the NH(3) end of the molecule. This observation suggests that the barrier from previously reported measurement of BH(3) rotation corresponds to H(3)B-NH(3) correlated rotation.     

Solid-state thermolysis of ammonia borane and related materials for high-capacity hydrogen storage

Ammonia borane (NH(3)BH(3), AB) is a unique molecular crystal containing an intriguingly high density of hydrogen. In the past several years, AB has received extensive attention as a promising hydrogen storage medium. Several strategies have been successfully developed for promoting H(2) release and for suppressing the evolution of volatile by-products from the solid-state thermolysis of AB. Several potentially cost-effective and energy-efficient routes for regenerating AB from the spent fuels have been experimentally demonstrated. These remarkable technological advances offer a promising prospect of using AB-based materials as viable H(2) carriers for on-board application. In this perspective, the recent progresses in promoting H(2) release from the solid-state thermolysis of AB and in developing regeneration technologies are briefly reviewed.     

Amineborane-based chemical hydrogen storage: enhanced ammonia borane dehydrogenation in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids are shown to provide advantageous media for amineborane-based chemical hydrogen storage systems. Both the extent and rate of hydrogen release from ammonia borane dehydrogenation are significantly increased at 85, 90, and 95 degrees C when the reactions are carried out in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride compared to analogous solid-state reactions. NMR studies in conjunction with DFT/GIAO chemical shift calculations indicate that both polyaminoborane and the diammoniate of diborane, [(NH3)2BH2+]BH4-, are initial products in the reactions.     

Syntheses and structural characterizations of anionic borane-capped ammonia borane oligomers: evidence for ammonia borane H2 release via a base-promoted anionic dehydropolymerization mechanism

Studies of the activating effect of Verkade's base, 2,8,9-triisobutyl-2,5,8,9-tetraaza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.3.3]undecane (VB), on the rate and extent of H(2) release from ammonia borane (AB) have led to the syntheses and structural characterizations of three anionic aminoborane chain-growth products that provide direct support for anionic dehydropolymerization mechanistic steps in the initial stages of base-promoted AB H(2) release reactions. The salt VBH(+)[H(3)BNH(2)BH(2)NH(2)BH(3)](-) (1) containing a linear five-membered anionic aminoborane chain was produced in 74% yield via the room-temperature reaction of a 3:1 AB/VB mixture in fluorobenzene solvent, while the branched and linear-chain seven-membered anionic aminoborane oligomers VBH(+)[HB(NH(2)BH(3))(3)](-) (2a) and VBH(+)[H(3)BNH(2)BH(2)NH(2)BH(2)NH(2)BH(3)](-) (2b) were obtained from VB/AB reactions carried out at 50 °C for 5 days when the AB/VB ratio was increased to 4:1. X-ray crystal structure determinations confirmed that these compounds are the isoelectronic and isostructural analogues of the hydrocarbons n-pentane, 3-ethylpentane, and n-heptane, respectively. The structural determinations also revealed significant interionic B-H···H-N dihydrogen-bonding interactions in these anions that could enhance dehydrocoupling chain-growth reactions. Such mechanistic pathways for AB H(2) release, involving the initial formation of the previously known [H(3)BNH(2)BH(3)](-) anion followed by sequential dehydrocoupling of B-H and H-N groups of growing borane-capped aminoborane anions with AB, are supported by the fact that 1 was observed to react with an additional AB equivalent to form 2a and 2b.     

ZIF-8 immobilized nickel nanoparticles: highly effective catalysts for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Highly dispersed Ni nanoparticles have been successfully immobilized by the zeolitic metal-organic framework ZIF-8 via sequential deposition-reduction methods, which show high catalytic activity and long durability for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of aqueous ammonia borane (NH(3)BH(3)) at room temperature.     

In situ solid state 11B MAS-NMR studies of the thermal decomposition of ammonia borane: mechanistic studies of the hydrogen release pathways from a solid state hydrogen storage material

The mechanism of hydrogen release from solid state ammonia borane (AB) has been investigated via in situ solid state (11)B and (11)B{(1)H} MAS-NMR techniques in external fields of 7.1 T and 18.8 T at a decomposition temperature of 88 degrees C, well below the reported melting point. The decomposition of AB is well described by an induction, nucleation and growth mechanistic pathway. During the induction period, little hydrogen is released from AB; however, a new species identified as a mobile phase of AB is observed in the (11)B NMR spectra. Subsequent to induction, at reaction times when hydrogen is initially being released, three additional species are observed: the diammoniate of diborane (DADB), [(NH(3))(2)BH(2)](+)[BH(4)](-), and two BH(2)N(2) species believed to be the linear (NH(3)BH(2)NH(2)BH(3)) and cyclic dimer (NH(2)BH(2))(2) of aminoborane. At longer reaction times the sharper features are replaced by broad, structureless peaks of a complex polymeric aminoborane (PAB) containing both BH(2)N(2) and BHN(3) species. The following mechanistic model for the induction, nucleation and growth for AB decomposition leading to formation of hydrogen is proposed: (i) an induction period that yields a mobile phase of AB caused by disruption of the dihydrogen bonds; (ii) nucleation that yields reactive DADB from the mobile AB; and (iii) growth that includes a bimolecular reaction between DADB and AB to release the stored hydrogen.     

Efficient catalysis of ammonia borane dehydrogenation

In the presence of an iridium pincer complex, dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (H3NBH3) occurs rapidly at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran to generate 1.0 equivalent of H2 and [NH2BH2]5. A metal borohydride complex has been isolated as a dormant form of the catalyst which can be reactivated by reaction with H2.