A prospect for LiBH<Subscript>4</Subscript> as on-board hydrogen storage

In contrast to the traditional metal hydrides, in which hydrogen storage involves the reversible hydrogen entering/exiting of the host hydride lattice, LiBH₄ releases hydrogen via decomposition that produces segregated LiH and amorphous B phases. This is obviously the reason why lithium borohydride applications in fuel cells so far meet only one requirement — high hydrogen storage capacity. Nevertheless, its thermodynamics and kinetics studies are very active today and efficient ways to meet fuel cell requirements might be done through lowering the temperature for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation and suitable catalyst. Some improvements are expected to enable LiBH₄ to be used in on-board hydrogen storage.     

Li<Superscript>+</Superscript> ionic conduction properties on NaI doped with a small amount of LiBH<Subscript>4</Subscript>

In the present work, Li⁺ conductor is synthesized via small doping of LiBH₄ into “Li-free” compound (or solid solvent), NaI. The formation of solid solution between NaI and LiBH₄ is confirmed by XRD measurement, and the solubility limit of LiBH₄ exists between 6 to 13 mol%. The value of σ for 15NaI·LiBH₄ (6 mol% LiBH₄) showed 1.7 × 10^?6 S/cm at room temperature, which is comparable to that for LiI. From the plot of log σT vs. 1000/T, an activation energy for Li⁺ conduction in NaI is estimated to be 0.68 and 0.32 eV for heating and cooling cycle, respectively. The results of AC impedance measurement and DC polarization test indicate that Li⁺ plays a major role in ionic conduction in NaI regardless of the slight molar fraction of Li⁺. The present results suggest that the expansion in the material choice for solid solvent and other alkali halides can also work as a base material for Li⁺ ion conductors.     

[Ca(BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> </Subscript> clusters as hydrogen storage material: A DFT study

Calcium borohydride is widely studied as a hydrogen storage material. However, investigations on calcium borohydride from a cluster perspective are seldom found. The geometric structures and binding energies of [Ca(BH₄)₂]_n (n = 1–4) clusters are determined using density function theory (DFT). For the most stable structures, vibration frequency, natural bond orbital (NBO) are calculated and discussed. The charge transfer from (BH₄) to Ca was observed. Meanwhile, we also study the LUMO–HOMO gap (E_g) and the B–H bond dissociation energies (BDEs). [Ca(BH₄)₂]₃ owns higher E_g, revealing that trimer is more stable than the other forms. Structures don’t change during optimization after hydrogen radical removal, showing that calcium borohydride could possibly be used as a reversible hydrogen storage material. [Ca(BH₄)₂]₄ has the smallest dissociation energy suggesting it releases hydrogen more easily than others.     

Investigation of fast neutron shielding characteristics depending on boron percentages of MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>, NaBH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and KBH<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The macroscopic cross-section Σ and average neutron fluence in matter Φ are usable factors to comment neutron shielding property of samples. In this paper, we have used MgB₂, NaBH₄ and KBH₄ samples including different percentages of boron. Neutron macroscopic cross-section measurements of them have been done by using a source of mono-energetic neutrons (E _eff = 4.5 MeV ²⁴¹Am–Be). Average neutron fluence values and double differential fast neutron flux distributions of each samples calculated by using FLUKA Monte Carlo code. Also half value layers (HVLs) of samples are compared to paraffin which is one of the most neutron moderators. As a result, growing boron concentration can raise neutron shielding property of materials.     

Structure and some properties of [UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>{CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CON(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

A new complex [UO₂CrO₄{CH₃CON(CH₃)₂}₂] (I) was studied by thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The crystals are monoclinic: a = 13.8108(11) Å, b = 8.6804(7) Å, c = 13.0989(10) Å, β = 104.777(1)°, V = 1518.4(2) ų, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, R = 2.39%. The structure of I contains infinite chains of the [UO₂CrO₄{CH₃CON(CH₃)₂}₂] composition running along [001]; the complex belongs to the AT¹¹M¹ ₂ crystal-chemical group (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , T¹¹ = CrO ₄ ^2? , M¹ = CH₃CON(CH₃)₂) of uranyl complexes. The chains are linked into a three-dimensional framework due to hydrogen bonds between oxygen atoms of chromate ions and hydrogen atoms of methyl groups of the dimethylacetamide.     

Effect of Pd and rare earth oxides (La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) on the properties of a Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/cordierite catalyst in reduction of O<Subscript>2</Subscript> and no by hydrogen

We have established that introducing a promoter (Pd) and modifying additives (La₂O₃, CeO₂) into the composition of a Co₃O₄/cordierite catalyst leads to an increase in its activity and selectivity during reduction of oxygen by hydrogen in the presence of nitrogen(II) oxide.     

LiF-LiCl-LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

Phase equilibria in the LiF-LiCl-LiVO₃-Li₂SO₄-Li₂MoO₄ system have been studied by differential thermal analysis. The eutectic composition has been determined as follows (mol %): LiF, 17.4; LiCl, 42.0; LiVO₃, 17.4; Li₂SO₄, 11.6; and Li₂MoO₄, 11.6, with the melting temperature equal to 363°C and the enthalpy of melting equal to (284 ± 7) kJ/kg.     

Crystal structures of Ti(NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>13</Subscript> and Sn(NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>13</Subscript>

The characteristics of crystal structures of the titanium(IV) diammonium (Ti(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃) and tin(IV) diammonium (Sn(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃) tetraphosphates, which are isostructural with similar silicon(IV) and germanium(IV) salts, have been obtained by the Rietveld method using X-ray powder diffraction data. The compounds crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P \(\overline 1 \), Z = 2, a = 15.0291(7) Å, b = 7.9236(4) Å, c = 5.0754(3) Å, α = 99.168(3)°, β = 97.059(3)°, γ = 83.459(3)° for Ti(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃ and a = 15.1454(7) Å, b = 8.0103(5) Å, c = 5.1053(3) Å, α = 99.898(6)°, β = 96.806(3)°, γ = 83.881(4)° for Sn(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃. The structure is refined in the isotropic approximation using the pseudo-Voigt function: R _p = 0.077, R _Bragg = 0.045, R _F = 0.057 for Ti(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃; R _p = 0.082, R _Bragg = 0.044, R _F = 0.046 for Sn(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃. The hydrogen atoms of the ammonium cations are placed in the calculated positions. A comparative analysis of the structures of the compounds of the M^IV(NH₄)₂P₄O₁₃ (M^IV = Si, Ge, Ti, Sn) series has been carried out.     

Solid-phase synthesis of intermetallic compounds Al<Subscript>13</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>, Al<Subscript>13</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>4</Subscript>, and Al<Subscript>13</Subscript>Co<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Intermetallic compounds Al₁₃Co₄, Al₁₃Fe₄, and Al₁₃Co₂Fe₂ were obtained by solid-phase synthesis in air at temperatures below 600°C using precursor metals subjected to mechanochemical preactivation. The phase composition of the synthesized aluminides and composites Al₁₃Co₄/SiO₂ and Al₁₃Fe₄/SiO₂ was analyzed.     

Mechanochemical synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-triethylborazine

Reactions of ethylamine hydrochloride C₂H₅NH₂HCl with MBH₄ (M = Li, Na, K) under mechanical activation of mixtures of crystalline substances in a vacuum vibratory ball mill are studied. The step-by-step pyrolysis of the reaction products at 90 and 240°C is found to yield N-triethylborazine. The maximum yields of N-triethylborazine are 78.9, 60.3, and 73.8% for LiBH₄, NaBH₄, and KBH₄, respectively. The target product is characterized by various physicochemical methods. The melting point, density, refractive index, and other properties correspond to the literature data for N-triethylborazine.     

LiF-LiBr-LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> four-component system

Phase equilibria in the LiF-LiBr-LiVO₃-Li₂MoO₄ four-component system were studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The eutectic composition (mol %) was determined as LiF, 19.3; LiBr, 45.0; LiVO₃, 32.7, Li₂MoO₄, 3.0 with a melting temperature of 394°C.     

Formation of Composites Based on CsHSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and Cs<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>3</Subscript>(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> and Mechanism of Their Protonic Conduction

Vibrational spectra of finely divided amorphous CsHSO₄,Cs₅H₃(SO₄)₄ · H₂O, and composites based on these are measured and analyzed. An analysis of the spectra indicates the occurrence of substantial changes in the system of hydrogen bonds and in the spectral range of the sulfate group of acid sulfates in the composites. Structural dynamics of the SO₄ tetrahedrons is in full conformance with protonic conduction and the data of x-ray diffraction analyses accompanied by differential scanning calorimetry. It is shown that mobility of protons in the composites increases. A mechanism of the formation of the composites and their conduction is proposed.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 640–645.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ponomareva, Lavrova, Burgina.     

Crystal Structure of [UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>{(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)HNCONH(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

The single crystals of [UO₂SO₄{(CH₃)HNCONH(CH₃)}₂] (I) were synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 6.847(1) Å, b = 14.259(3) Å, c = 14.297(3) Å, β = 93.451(4)°, space group P2₁/n, Z = 4. The main structural units of crystals I are ribbons whose composition coincides with the composition of the compound. The crystal chemical formula of the complex is AT³M ₂ ¹ (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ ).     

Improved Dehydrogenation Properties of LiBH4 Using Catalytic Nickel‐ and Cobalt‐based Mesoporous Oxide Nanorods

Lithium borohydride (LiBH₄) with a theoretical hydrogen storage capacity of 18.5 wt % has attracted intense interest as a high‐density hydrogen storage material. However, high dehydrogenation temperatures and limited kinetics restrict its practical applications. In this study, mesoporous nickel‐ and cobalt‐based oxide nanorods (NiCo₂O₄, Co₃O₄ and NiO) were synthesized in a controlled manner by using a hydrothermal method and then mixed with LiBH₄ by ball milling. It is found that the dehydrogenation properties of LiBH₄ are remarkably enhanced by doping the as‐synthesized metal oxide nanorods. When the mass ratio of LiBH₄ and oxides is 1:1, the NiCo₂O₄ nanorods display the best catalytic performance owing to the mesoporous rod‐like structure and synergistic effect of nickel and cobalt active species. The initial hydrogen desorption temperature of the LiBH₄‐NiCo₂O₄ composite decreases to 80 °C, which is 220 °C lower than that of pure LiBH₄, and 16.1 wt % H₂ is released at 500 °C for the LiBH₄‐NiCo₂O₄ composite. Meanwhile, the composite also exhibits superior dehydrogenation kinetics, which liberates 5.7 wt % H₂ within 60 s and a total of 12 wt % H₂ after 5 h at 400 °C. In comparison, pure LiBH₄ releases only 5.3 wt % H₂ under the same conditions.     

Catalytic hydrochlorination of acetylene on mechanochemically-activated K<Subscript>2</Subscript>PdCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We report the catalysis of the hydrochlorination of acetylene on the surface of dry K₂PdCl₄ subjected to prior mechanical activation in an atmosphere of acetylene or propylene. The stereochemistry of the reaction corresponds to trans addition of the halogen and hydrogen atoms to the C-C triple bond. The hydrogen halide is the source of the halogen atom in the reaction product. The mechanical activation of K₂PdCl₄, in contrast to the case of K₂PtCl₄, is also capable of activating the C-C double bond: propylene is hydrochlorinated under similar conditions to isopropyl chloride. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 306–309, September–October, 2008.     

Kinetics of phase formation upon the treatment of La<Subscript>2</Subscript>(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in a hydrogen flow

The sequence of phases occurring during treatment of lanthanum sulfate, La₂(SO₄)₃ and lanthanum oxysulfate, La₂O₂SO₄ in a hydrogen flow is established. The temperature ranges in which homogeneous La₂O₂S is produced are revealed: when La₂(SO₄)₃ is a precursor, the range is 770–1220 K; in the case of La₂O₂SO₄, the interval is 950–1220 K. The kinetic curves showing the time dependence of the yield of La₂O₂S is constructed and treated using the Avrami-Erofeev and contracting volume equations. The activation energies of the reactions are determined.     

Crystal structure of a new ternary molybdate in the Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Eu<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Hf(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

A ternary salt system Rb₂MoO₄-Eu₂(MoO₄)₃-Hf(MoO₄)₂ was studied in the subsolidus area by X-ray phase analysis. A novel ternary molybdate, Rb_4.98Eu_0.86Hf_1.11(MoO₄)₆, formed in the system. The Rb_4.98Eu_0.86Hf_1.11(MoO₄)₆ rubidium-europium-hafnium molybdate crystals were grown by solution-melt crystallization under the spontaneous nucleation conditions. The structure and composition of this compound were refined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (X8 APEX automated diffractometer, MoK _α radiation, 1753 F(hkl), R = 0.0183). The crystals are trigonal, a = b = 10.7264(1) Å, c = 38.6130(8) Å, V = 3847.44(9) ų, Z = 6, space group R \(\bar 3\) c. The three-dimensional mixed framework of the structure comprises Mo tetrahedra and two types of octahedra, (Eu,Hf)O₆ and HfO₆. The large cavities of the framework include two types of the rubidium atom. The distribution of the Eu³⁺ and Hf⁴⁺ cations over two crystallographic positions was refined.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of strontium borate Sr<Subscript>4</Subscript>B<Subscript>14</Subscript>O<Subscript>25</Subscript>

The new compound Sr₄B₁₄O₂₅ (4SrO · 7B₂O₃) corresponding to an oxide ratio of 4: 7 has been identified and synthesized in the SrO-B₂O₃ system. The crystal structure of the compound has been determined (space group Cmc2₁, a = 7.734(5) Å, b = 16.332(5) Å, c = 14.556(5) Å, Z = 4, 702 F(hkl), R = 0.078). The borate anions form a three-dimensional framework consisting of borate groups of two types: three-ring structures (2□, Δ) and BO₃ triangles. Layers formed by 14-membered rings composed of boron-oxygen tetrahedra and triangles packed within the layer according to the herringbone pattern can be distinguished in the framework. The strontium atoms are located on the mirror symmetry planes between these layers. The compound is metastable and decomposes, on long-term storage, into strontium di- and metaborate.     

Conductivity of molten LiF-ZrF<Subscript>4</Subscript>, NaF-ZrF<Subscript>4</Subscript>, KF-ZrF<Subscript>4</Subscript>, RbF-ZrF<Subscript>4</Subscript>, and CsF-ZrF<Subscript>4</Subscript> systems

Specific conductivity of molten salt mixtures of the LiF-ZrF₄, NaF-ZrF₄, KF-ZrF₄, RbF-ZrF₄, and CsF-ZrF₄ systems is measured in the whole concentration range using the reference capillary technique. The results are presented in the form of equations of the χ = a + bT + cT ² [S m^?1] type. The concentration dependences of molar conductivity are calculated on the basis of the density data. The obtained regularities are explained in the terms of the complex model of ion melt structures.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and biological properties of the complex [Co(DmgH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Seu)<Subscript>1.4</Subscript>(Se-Seu)<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>(Se<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>][BF<Subscript>4</Subscript>]

A new Co(III) dioxime complex with selenocarbamide was obtained by the reaction of Co(BF₄)₂ ? 6H₂O, DmgH₂, and Seu (DmgH2 = dimethylglyoxime, Seu = selenocarbamide). According to X-ray diffraction (CIF file CCDC no. 1485732), the product was an ionic coordination compound with unusual composition, [Co(DmgH)₂(Seu)_1.4(Se-Seu)_0.5(Se₂)_0.1][BF₄] (I). Apart from two monodeprotonated DmgH￣ molecules, the central atom coordinates neutral Seu, Se-Seu, and Se₂ molecules. Thus, the crystal contains the complex cations [Co(DmgH)₂(Seu)₂]⁺, [Co(DmgH)₂(Seu)(Se-Seu)]⁺, and [Co(DmgH)₂(Seu)(Se₂)]⁺. Each [BF₄]￣ anion is linked to the cations not only by electrostatic forces but also by intermolecular N–H···F hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). The complex cations are combined by intermolecular N–H···O H-bonds. The new coordination compound was found to possess biological activity. Treatment of the garlic (Allium sativum L.) foliage with an aqueous solution of I optimizes the content of selenium in the leaves and cloves and enhances the growth and plant productivity. The organs of treated plants are characterized by enhanced antioxidant protection owing to increasing activity of antioxidant enzymes and contents of proline and assimilation pigments, and decreasing lipid peroxidation.