Hydrogen storage in Mg–LiBH4 composites catalyzed by FeF3

Mg-10 mol% LiBH4 composite plus small amounts of FeF3 is investigated in the present work. The presence of LiBH4 during the milling process noticeably modifies the size and morphology of the Mg agglomerates, leading to faster hydrogenation and reaching almost the theoretical hydrogen capacity owing to enhanced hydrogen diffusion mechanism. However, the dehydrogenation of the system at low temperatures (<= 300 degrees C) is still slow. Thus, FeF3 addition is proposed to improve the dehydrogenation kinetic behavior. From experimental results, it is found that the presence of FeF3 results in an additional size reduction of the Mg agglomerates between similar to 10 and similar to 100 mu m and the formation of stable phases such as MgF2, LiF and FeB. The FeB species might have a catalytic effect upon the MgH2 decomposition. As a further result of the FeF3 addition, the Mg-10 mol%LiBH4-5 mol% FeF3 material shows improved dehydrogenation properties: reduced dehydrogenation activation energy, faster hydrogen desorption rate and reversible hydrogen capacities of about 5 wt% at 275 degrees C. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)