First-principles study on the intermediate compounds of LiBH4_4

We report the results of the first-principles calculation on the intermediate compounds of LiBH$_4$. The stability of LiB$_3$H$_8$ and Li$_2$B$_n$H$_n (n=5-12)$ has been examined with the ultrasoft pseudopotential method based on the density functional theory. Theoretical prediction has suggested that monoclinic Li$_2$B$_{12}$H$_{12}$ is the most stable among the candidate materials. We propose the following hydriding/dehydriding process of LiBH$_4$ via this intermediate compound : LiBH$_4 \leftrightarrow {1/12}$Li$_{2}$B$_{12}$H$_{12} + {5/6}$ LiH $+ {13/12}$H$_2 \leftrightarrow$LiH $+$ B $+ {3/2}$H$_2$. The hydrogen content and enthalpy of the first reaction are estimated to be 10 mass% and 56 kJ/mol H$_2$, respectively, and those of the second reaction are 4 mass% and 125 kJ/mol H$_2$. They are in good agreement with experimental results of the thermal desorption spectra of LiBH$_4$. Our calculation has predicted that the bending modes for the $\Gamma$-phonon frequencies of monoclinic Li$_2$B$_{12}$H$_{12}$ are lower than that of LiBH$_4$, while stretching modes are higher. These results are very useful for the experimental search and identification of possible intermediate compounds.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR

Syntheses and Hydrogen Desorption Properties of Metal-Borohydrides M(BH 4 ) n

Metal-borohydrides M(BH 4 ) n (M ¼ Mg, Sc, Zr, Ti, and Zn; n ¼ 2{4) were synthesized by mechanical milling process according to the following reaction; MCl n þ nLiBH 4 /nNaBH 4 ! M(BH 4 ) n þ nLiCl/nNaCl. Then the thermal desorption properties of M(BH 4 ) n were investigated by gas-chromatography and mass-spectroscopy combined with thermogravimetry. The results indicate that the hydrogen desorption temperature T d of M(BH 4 ) n correlates with the Pauling electronegativity P of M; that is, T d decreases with increasing value of P . The components of desorbed gas for M ¼ Mg, Sc, Zr and Ti ( P 5 1:5) are hydrogen only, while that for M ¼ Zn ( P ¼ 1:6) contains borane besides hydrogen. The Pauling electronegativity P of M is an indicator to estimate T d of M(BH 4 ) n as candidates for advanced hydrogen storage materials with high gravimetric hydrogen densities and low desorption temperatures

First-principles study on the stability of intermediate compounds of LiBH₄

We report the results of the first-principles calculation on the intermediate compounds of LiBH₄. The stability of LiB₃H₈ and Li₂BnHn (n=5–12) has been examined with the ultrasoft pseudopotential method based on the density-functional theory. Theoretical prediction has suggested that monoclinic Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ is the most stable among the candidate materials. We propose the following hydriding (dehydriding) process of LiBH₄ via this intermediate compound: LiBH₄ 1/2Li₂B₁₂H₁₂+5/6LiH+13/12H₂ LiH+B+3/2H₂. The hydrogen content and enthalpy of the first reaction are estimated to be 10 mass % and 56 kJ/mol H₂, respectively, and those of the second reaction are 4 mass % and 125 kJ/mol H₂. They are in good agreement with experimental results of the thermal desorption spectra of LiBH₄. Our calculation has predicted that the bending modes for the Γ-phonon frequencies of monoclinic Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ are lower than that of LiBH₄, while stretching modes are higher. These results are very useful for the experimental search and identification of possible intermediate compounds

Correlation between thermodynamical stabilities of metal borohydrides and cation electronegativites: First-principles calculations and experiments

The thermodynamical stabilities for the series of metal borohydrides M(BH₄)n (M=Li, Na, K, Cu, Mg, Zn, Sc, Zr, and Hf; n=1–4) have been systematically investigated by first-principles calculations. The results indicated that an ionic bonding between Mⁿ⁺ cations and [BH₄]⁻ anions exists in M(BH₄)n, and the charge transfer from Mⁿ⁺ cations to [BH₄]⁻ anions is a key feature for the stability of M(BH₄)n. A good correlation between the heat of formation ΔHboro of M(BH₄)n and the Pauling electronegativity of the cation ϰP can be found, which is represented by the linear relation, ΔHboro=248.7ϰP–390.8 in the unit of kJ/mol BH₄. In order to confirm the predicted correlation experimentally, the hydrogen desorption reactions were studied for M(BH₄)n (M=Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Sc, Zr, and Hf), where the samples of the later five borohydrides were mechanochemically synthesized. The thermal desorption analyses indicate that LiBH₄, NaBH₄, and KBH₄ desorb hydrogen to hydride phases. Mg(BH₄)₂, Sc(BH₄)₃, and Zr(BH₄)₄ show multistep desorption reactions through the intermediate phases of hydrides and/or borides. On the other hand, Zn(BH₄)₂ desorbs hydrogen and borane to elemental Zn due to instabilities of Zn hydride and boride. A correlation between the desorption temperature Td and the Pauling electronegativity ϰP is observed experimentally and so ϰP is an indicator to approximately estimate the stability of M(BH₄)n. The enthalpy change for the desorption reaction, ΔHdes, is estimated using the predicted ΔHboro and the reported data for decomposed product, ΔHhyd/boride. The estimated ΔHdes show a good correlation with the observed Td, indicating that the predicted stability of borohydride is experimentally supported. These results are useful for exploring M(BH₄)n with appropriate stability as hydrogen storage materials

Guidelines for Developing Amide-Based Hydrogen Storage Materials

An effective method for developing amide-based high-performance hydrogen storage materials is to prepare appropriate combinations of amides and hydrides. We have proposed that a mixture of an amide with a low decomposition temperature and a hydride showing rapid reaction to ammonia would be an appropriate combination. According to this proposal, the mixture of Mg(NH 2 ) 2 (Mg amide) and LiH (Li hydride) was investigated. The dehydriding temperature of the mixture of Mg(NH 2 ) 2 and 4ÁLiH is lower than that of the mixture of LiNH 2 (Li amide) and 2ÁLiH. A method for preventing ammonia release is increasing the LiH ratio in the mixtures, which results in a reduction in the amount of desorbed hydrogen. The homogeneous dispersion between Mg(NH 2 ) 2 and LiH might be also an important factor for preventing ammonia release