Low-temperature synthesis of LiBH4 by gas-solid reaction.
The solvent-free synthesis of LiBH(4) from LiH in a borane atmosphere at 120 degrees C and ambient pressures is demonstrated. The source of borane is a milled LiBH(4)/ZnCl(2) mixture, in which Zn(BH(4))(2) is generated by a metathesis reaction. The yield of the reaction of about 74 % LiBH(4) shows that a bulk reaction is taking place upon borane absorption by LiH. This indicates that the formation of B-H bonds is the limiting step for the formation of LiBH(4) from the elements. Therefore, the use of diborane as a starting reactant allows one to circumvent the reaction barrier for the B-B bond dissociation and explains the rather moderate synthesis conditions.
Empa, Materials Sciences and Technology, Department of Mobility, Environment and Energy, Divison 'Hydrogen and Energy', Uberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. oliver.friedrichs@empa.ch
Oliver
O
Friedrichs
Andreas
A
Borgschulte
Shunsuke
S
Kato
Florian
F
Buchter
Robin
R
Gremaud
Arndt
A
Remhof
Andreas
A
Züttel