PNNL

Abstract

We present the activation of hydrogen release from AB by the presence of mechanically activated h–BN. Hydrogen is released at lower temperatures and the dehydrogenation is less exothermic than neat AB. This approach provides all the benefits of a light-weight scaffold without additional foreign contamination that might complicate AB recycling. Several beneficial effects that pertain to the hydrogen desorption properties of the mixtures of AB:nano-BN are notable, such as the decrease of hydrogen desorption temperature, the decrease in NH3 formation as well as the decrease of the exothermicity of hydrogen desorption with increasing the nano-BN concentration. The lower exothermicity of H2 release from AB in the mesoporous silica and the nano-BN may be due physical and chemical interactions between the PAB oligomers and the interface of the silica scaffold or BN support. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.