Complex hydrides for energy storage

In the past decades, complex hydrides and complex hydrides-based materials have been thoroughly investigated as materials for energy storage, owing to their very high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen capacities and interesting cation and hydrogen diffusion properties. Concerning hydrogen storage, the main limitations of this class of materials are the high working temperatures and pressures, the low hydrogen absorption and desorption rates and the poor cyclability. In the past years, research in this field has been focused on understanding the hydrogen release and uptake mechanism of the pristine and catalyzed materials and on the characterization of the thermodynamic aspects, in order to rationally choose the composition and the stoichiometry of the systems in terms of hydrogen active phases and catalysts/destabilizing agents. Moreover, new materials have been discovered and characterized in an attempt to find systems with properties suitable for practical on-board and stationary applications. A significant part of this rich and productive activity has been performed by the research groups led by the Experts of the International Energy Agreement Task 32, often in collaborative research projects. The most recent findings of these joint activities and other noteworthy recent results in the field are reported in this paper

Kinetic alteration of the 6Mg(NH2)2-9LiH-LiBH4 system by co-adding YCl3 and Li3N

The 6Mg(NH2)2-9LiH-LiBH4 composite system has a maximum reversible hydrogen content of 4.2 wt% and a predicted dehydrogenation temperature of about 64 °C at 1 bar of H2. However, the existence of severe kinetic barriers precludes the occurrence of de/re-hydrogenation processes at such a low temperature (H. Cao, G. Wu, Y. Zhang, Z. Xiong, J. Qiu and P. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 15816-15822). In this work, Li3N and YCl3 have been chosen as co-additives for this system. These additives increase the hydrogen storage capacity and hasten the de/re-hydrogenation kinetics: a hydrogen uptake of 4.2 wt% of H2 was achieved in only 8 min under isothermal conditions at 180 °C and 85 bar of H2 pressure. The re-hydrogenation temperature, necessary for a complete absorption process, can be lowered below 90 °C by increasing the H2 pressure above 185 bar. Moreover, the results indicate that the hydrogenation capacity and absorption kinetics can be maintained roughly constant over several cycles. Low operating temperatures, together with fast absorption kinetics and good reversibility, make this system a promising on-board hydrogen storage material. The reasons for the improved de/re-hydrogenation properties are thoroughly investigated and discussed

A new potassium-based intermediate and its role in the desorption properties of the K–Mg–N–H system

In situSR-PXD experiments revealed a new reaction mechanism of amide–hydride anionic exchange for the K–Mg–N–H system

Effect of Fe additive on the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation properties of 2LiH + MgB2/2LiBH4 + MgH2 system

Lithium reactive hydride composite 2LiBH4 + MgH2 (Li-RHC) has been lately investigated owing to its potential as hydrogen storage medium for mobile applications. However, the main problem associated with this material is its sluggish kinetic behavior. Thus, aiming to improve the kinetic properties, in the present work the effect of the addition of Fe to Li-RHC is investigated. The addition of Fe lowers the starting decomposition temperature of Li-RHC about 30 °C and leads to a considerably faster isothermal dehydrogenation rate during the first hydrogen sorption cycle. Upon hydrogenation, MgH2 and LiBH4 are formed whereas Fe appears not to take part in any reaction. Upon the first dehydrogenation, the formation of nanocrystalline, well distributed FeB reduces the overall hydrogen storage capacity of the system. Throughout cycling, the agglomeration of FeB particles causes a kinetic deterioration. An analysis of the hydrogen kinetic mechanism during cycling shows that the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation behavior is influenced by the activity of FeB as heterogeneous nucleation center for MgB2 and its non-homogenous distribution in the Li-RHC matrix.Fil: Puszkiel, Julián Atilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Gennari, Fabiana Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Arneodo Larochette, Pierre Paul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Ramallo Lopez, Jose Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Vainio, U.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh; . Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron; AlemaniaFil: Karimi, F.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Pranzas, P. K.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Troiani, Horacio Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Pistidda, C.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Jepsen, J.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Tolkiehn, M.. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron; AlemaniaFil: Welter, E.. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron; AlemaniaFil: Klassen, T.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Bellosta Von Colbe, J.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh;Fil: Dornheim, M.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum Für Material- Und Küstenforschung Gmbh

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: LAS VEGAS - An observational study in 29 countries

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (V T) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg−1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P ˂ 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P ˂ 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high V T and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome.</p