Abstract: A method and a system is provided for obtaining solid-state hydrogen storage and release in materials with at least theoretical loaded hydrogen densities of 11 wt % or greater that can deliver hydrogen and be recharged at moderate temperatures enabling incorporation into hydrogen storage systems suitable for transportation applications. These materials comprise ternary boride materials comprising certain light transition metals and alkaline or alkaline earth metals, and ideally have no or very little phase separation. A process of making these materials is also provided.

Abstract: A method for depositing a metal film onto a substrate is disclosed. In particular, the method comprises pulsing a metal halide precursor onto the substrate and pulsing a decaborane precursor onto the substrate. A reaction between the metal halide precursor and the decaborane precursor forms a metal film, specifically a metal boride.

Abstract: The process for obtaining M1BH4, the process comprising contacting M1-B02 with a metal M2 in the presence of molecular hydrogen (H2) under conditions permitting the formation of M1-BH4 and M2-oxide, wherein the M1 is a metal selected from column I of the periodic table of elements or alloys of metals selected from column I of the periodic table of elements and M2 is a metal or an alloy of metals selected from column II of the periodic table of elements, provided that M2 is not Mg and M1 is different from M2.

Abstract: A method for preparing metal complex hydride nanorods, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing one-dimensional coordination polymers by mixing metal complex hydrides with organic solvents and subsequent drying; (2) preparing coordination polymer nanostructures by mechanical milling the one-dimensional coordination polymers that obtained from step (1), in which the one-dimensional coordination polymers are vaporized and then deposited onto the substrate; (3) preparing metal complex hydride nanorods by removing the organic ligands from the coordination polymer nanostructures that obtained from step (2). This method is simple and feasible, and exhibits excellent generality. Moreover, the purity of the metal complex hydrides nanostructures is high.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for storing and releasing hydrogen from a mass of transition metal borohydride particles, or a mass of mixed, transition metal and alkali metal-containing, borohydride particles where hydrogen is to be released by heating the mass of particles upon a demand for hydrogen in a hydrogen-using application. Particles of a metal hydride are mixed with the metal borohydride particles to form a mass of hydrogen storage particles. The composition and amount of the metal hydride mixed into the hydrogen storage particles serves to react with boron from the borohydride particles to form a metal boride and to suppress release of diborane as hydrogen is released from the heated metal borohydride particles.

Abstract: A magnesium battery 10 according to the present invention includes a positive electrode 12, a negative electrode 14 having a magnesium-containing negative electrode active material, and an inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte 16 that is interposed between the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 14, has a complex ion structure that contains magnesium and hydrogen, and conducts magnesium ions. The inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte 16 may contain a compound having at least one selected from boron and nitrogen. The inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte may be produced by a production method that includes a heat-treatment step of mixing and heating Mg(BH4)2 and Mg(NH2)2 to form a compound having a complex ion structure that contains magnesium and hydrogen.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metallic element atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic elemental nanoparticles.

Abstract: A novel ferromagnetic composition is provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The composition need not contain any inherently ferromagnetic elements and can be much lighter than conventional iron or other metal-based ferromagnetic materials. Core-solenoid devices having ferromagnetic cores which employ the novel ferromagnetic composition are additionally provided. Examples such as electric motors or generators for use in hybrid or all-electric automobiles are included.

Abstract: A reagent and its method of production are provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling a mixture which includes an elemental (i.e. zero-valent) material and a hydride. In some cases, the elemental material is a non-metal such as carbon. The reagent can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of elemental nanoparticles composed of zero-valent metal, metalloid, or non-metal.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metallic element atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic elemental nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. In some instances, the composition includes a first zero-valent metal atom and a second zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metal alloy nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising a metal amidoborane and an amine, and processes for preparing the metal amidoborane compositions. In particular, the process comprises contacting ammonia borane with a metal amide in the presence of an amine solvent to form the metal amidoborane composition. The invention also provides methods for generating hydrogen, wherein the method comprises heating the metal amidoborane composition such that hydrogen is released.

Abstract: Complex hydrides based on Al(BH4)3 are stabilized by the presence of one or more additional metal elements or organic adducts to provide high capacity hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of activating or regenerating a hydrogen storage material which contains at least one metal hydride. The at least one metal hydride is brought into contact with an inert solvent and the inert solvent is subsequently removed again. After contacting with and removal of the inert solvent, there is not only an increase in the reaction rate but surprisingly the hydrogenation also proceeds more completely. The present method is particularly advantageous when the hydrogen storage material contains at least components which interact with one another during absorption and desorption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reversible hydrogen storage, to a material for reversible hydrogen storage and to the use of the material for reversible hydrogen storage.

Abstract: A magnesium battery 10 according to the present invention includes a positive electrode 12, a negative electrode 14 having a magnesium-containing negative electrode active material, and an inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte 16 that is interposed between the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 14, has a complex ion structure that contains magnesium and hydrogen, and conducts magnesium ions. The inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte 16 may contain a compound having at least one selected from boron and nitrogen. The inorganic magnesium solid electrolyte may be produced by a production method that includes a heat-treatment step of mixing and heating Mg(BH4)2 and Mg(NH2)2 to form a compound having a complex ion structure that contains magnesium and hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of matter useful as deposition agents for making structures, including thin film structures and hard coatings, on substrates and features of substrates. In an embodiment, for example, the present invention provides metal complexes having one or more diboranamide or diboranaphosphide ligands that are useful as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and/or atomic layer deposition (ALD) precusors for making thin film structures and coatings. Metal complex CVD precursors are provided that possess volitilities sufficiently high so as to provide dense, smooth and homogenous thin films and coatings.

Abstract: A doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The doped hydrogen storage materials are used for storing hydrogen, and also disclosed is a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The present invention further relates to the use of doped hydrogen storage materials according to the invention for storing hydrogen and a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: Complex hydrides based on Al(BH4)3 are stabilized by the presence of one or more additional metal elements or organic adducts to provide high capacity hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a complex hydride and a borohydride catalyst wherein the borohydride catalyst comprises a BH4 group, and a group IV metal, a group V metal, or a combination of a group IV and a group V metal. Also disclosed herein are methods of making the composition.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for directly preparing an alkaline earth metal borohydride, i.e. Mg(BH4)2, from the alkaline earth metal boride MgB2 by hydrogenating the MgB2 at an elevated temperature and pressure. The boride may also be doped with small amounts of a metal chloride catalyst such as TiCl3 and/or NiCl2. The process provides for charging MgB2 with high pressure hydrogen above at least 70 MPa while simultaneously heating the material to about 350° C. to about 400° C. The method is relatively simple and inexpensive and provides a reversible hydride compound having a hydrogen capacity of at least 11 wt %.

Abstract: An aqueous fuel for generating hydrogen includes alkaline aqueous composition of about 17 to 37 mole percent of a sodium borohydride, and from about 0.001 to 1 mole percent of sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: Novel mixed alkali metal borohydrides are disclosed which can be used as hydrogen storage materials. Processes for producing the mixed alkali metal borohydrides and their use in hydrogen storage devices are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing magnesium borohydride. The method includes the step of reacting a metal borohydride with a metal salt composition in a solvent, to form a reaction mixture. The metal salt composition comprises at least one magnesium salt. The metal borohydride and the metal salt composition are insoluble in the solvent. The method further includes the step of grinding the reaction mixture to produce a composition that includes magnesium borohydride; and removing the solvent from the composition. Another embodiment of this invention relates to a new material. The material is an orthorhombic crystal phase of magnesium borohydride.

Abstract: A method for preparing M2B12H12, wherein M is an alkali metal, from an alkali metal borohydride and an amine borane. The method includes a step of allowing the alkali metal borohydride to react with excess amine borane in contact with a complexing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a complex hydride and a borohydride catalyst wherein the borohydride catalyst comprises a BH4 group, and a group IV metal, a group V metal, or a combination of a group IV and a group V metal. Also disclosed herein are methods of making the composition.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of activating or regenerating a hydrogen storage material which contains at least one metal hydride. The at least one metal hydride is brought into contact with an inert solvent and the inert solvent is subsequently removed again. After contacting with and removal of the inert solvent, there is not only an increase in the reaction rate but surprisingly the hydrogenation also proceeds more completely. The present method is particularly advantageous when the hydrogen storage material contains at least components which interact with one another during absorption and desorption.

Abstract: This idea relates to the synthesis of salts of dodecahydrododecaborate B12H12 (2-). In the proposed process a metal hydride is reacted with an alkyl borate in the presence of a Lewis base to produce Lewis base-borane compex, which is thermally decomposed to produce salts of B12H12 (2-), while alkyl borare is recovered from the reaction by-product and is recycled.

Abstract: A process for producing borazane from boron-nitrogen and boron-nitrogen-hydrogen containing BNH-waste products. The process includes reacting the BNH-waste products with a hydrogen halide, having the formula HX, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof, to form any of the following: a boron trihalide, having the formula BX3, an ammonium halide, having the formula NH4X, and hydrogen. The boron trihalide is then reacted with the hydrogen to form diborane, having the formula B2H6, and hydrogen halide. The ammonium halide is then converted to ammonia, having the formula NH3, and hydrogen halide. The diborane is then reacted with the ammonia to form borazane, having the formula BH3NH3.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of magnesium borohydride having a high purity and crystallinity, which comprises the reaction of an orgenometallic compound of magnesium of the type MgX2, wherein X is an organic binder selected from alkyl, amide, alkoxide, cyclopentadienyl, aryl, with a derivative of a boron hydride, in a hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for directly preparing an alkaline earth metal borohydride, i.e. Ca(BH4)2, from the alkaline earth metal hydride and the alkaline earth metal boride. The borohydride thus prepared is doped with a small portion of a metal chloride catalyst compound, such as RuCl3, TiCl3, or a mixture of TiCl3 and palladium metal. The process provides for mechanically mixing the dry reagents under an inert atmosphere followed by charging the mixed materials with high pressure hydrogen at about 70 MPa while heating the mixture to about 400° C. The method is relatively simple and inexpensive and provides reversible hydride compounds which are free of the usual contamination introduced by prior art wet chemical methods.

Abstract: A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a first material of the formula M(BH4)x, where M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, providing a second material selected from M(AlH4)x, a mixture of M(AlH4)x and MClx, a mixture of MClx and Al, a mixture of MClxand AlH3, a mixture of MHx and Al, Al, and AlH3. The first and second materials are combined at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a third material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the first material and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the second material.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing metal borohydride especially sodium borohydride directly from borax by the use of proton H at room temperature and pressure. Said process comprising the steps of: Providing proton H by the use of metals or alloys that can form hydrides with hydrogen. In this case, the metals or alloys are the carriers of proton H Proton H also can be provided from hydrogen gas by the use of catalysts located on the surface of carriers. Making the proton H enters the lattice of boron oxides Removing the oxygen from the lattice of boron oxides by the use of the carriers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reversibly storing hydrogen at industrially practicable temperature and pressure conditions. A stable hydrogen storage hydride is mixed with a destabilizing hydride. The stable hydride is capable of releasing hydrogen at a first energy level. When the stable hydride is in the presence of the destabilizing hydride, the stable hydride releases hydrogen at a second energy level. The second energy level is significantly reduced from the first energy level.

Abstract: A process for production of a borohydride compound. The process comprises the steps of: (a) combining a boron-containing salt, at least one of a metal and its hydride; wherein the metal is Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Si or a transition metal; and a solvent in which the borohydride compound is soluble; (b) grinding a mixture formed in step (a) to form the borohydride compound; and (c) separating a solution comprising the borohydride compound.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing metal borohydride especially sodium borohydride directly from borax by the use of proton H at room temperature and pressure. Said process comprising the steps of: Providing proton H by the use of metals or alloys that can form hydrides with hydrogen. In this case, the metals or alloys are the carriers of proton H Proton H also can be provided from hydrogen gas by the use of catalysts located on the surface of carriers. Making the proton H enters the lattice of boron oxides Removing the oxygen from the lattice of boron oxides by the use of the carriers.

Abstract: A process for producing borazane from boron-nitrogen and boron-nitrogen-hydrogen containing BNH-waste products. The process includes reacting the BNH-waste products with a hydrogen halide, having the formula HX, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof, to form any of the following: a boron trihalide, having the formula BX3, an ammonium halide, having the formula NH4X, and hydrogen. The boron trihalide is then reacted with the hydrogen to form diborane, having the formula B2H6, and hydrogen halide. The ammonium halide is then converted to ammonia, having the formula NH3, and hydrogen halide. The diborane is then reacted with the ammonia to form borazane, having the formula BH3NH3.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising reacting a metal borohydride with a metal chloride composition in a solvent to form a reaction mixture, wherein the metal chloride composition comprises magnesium chloride; wherein the metal borohydride and the metal chloride composition are insoluble in the solvent; grinding the reaction mixture to produce a composition that comprises magnesium hydridoborohydride; and removing the solvent from the composition. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising magnesium hydridoborohydride having the formula MgnH(BH4)2n-1 where n is about 3 to about 7. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing hydrogen comprising heating a composition comprising magnesium hydridoborohydride.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metal borohydride salt, M(BH4)n, where n is 1 or 2, from a slurry of sodium borohydride and a sodium alkoxide in a liquid hydrocarbon, wherein M is Li, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba.

Abstract: A process for production of a borohydride compound. The process comprises the steps of: (a) combining a boron-containing salt, at least one of a metal and its hydride; wherein the metal is Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Si or a transition metal; and a solvent in which the borohydride compound is soluble; (b) grinding a mixture formed in step (a) to form the borohydride compound; and (c) separating a solution comprising the borohydride compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of triborohydride salts as hydrogen storage materials. The present invention also relates to a system of using triborohydride salts to generate hydrogen gas for use in a fuel cell or other hydrogen-consuming device. A novel method of preparing triborohydride salts is also disclosed, wherein gaseous diborane is reacted with a carbonate suspended in a non-aqueous solvent in a suitable vessel with agitation. The process is typically carried out utilizing sodium carbonate to form sodium triborohydride. Other triborohydride salts can then be formed by cationic exchange. Hydrogen generating fuels according to the present invention include aqueous or hydroalcoholic solutions or slurries of a triborohydride salt, which may additionally contain a borohydride salt to provide operation over a broader temperature range.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material and process of forming the material is provided in which complex hydrides are combined under conditions of elevated temperatures and/or elevated temperature and pressure with a titanium metal such as titanium butoxide. The resulting fused product exhibits hydrogen desorption kinetics having a first hydrogen release point which occurs at normal atmospheres and at a temperature between 50° C. and 90° C.

Abstract: Provided are magnesium hydroxide particles having a hexagonal crystal form and having an aspect ratio (H) which satisfies the following expression (I), 0.45·A·B<H<1.1·A·B  (I) (wherein H is an aspect ratio, A is an average secondary particle diameter (&mgr;m) of all of the particles measured by a laser diffraction scattering method and B is a specific surface area (m2/g) of all of the particles measured by a BET method), a flame-retardant comprising the particles, a flame-retardant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a synthetic resin and a 5 to 300 parts by weight of the magnesium hydroxide particles, and a molded article therefrom. The magnesium hydroxide particles are hexagonal single crystals, the hexagonal form thereof are not necessarily required to be regular hexagonal, and the size thereof are not necessarily constant.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing borohydride compounds with reduced energy requirements are disclosed.

Abstract: Pocesses for synthesizing borohydride compounds with reduced energy requirements are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for reducing boron and/or fluoride ion content of water. Feed water is contacted, in the presence of magnesium, with an alkaline hydroxide to produce treated water and a magnesium precipitate containing boron and fluorine. The precipitate is separated from the treated water. The boron content of water is reducible from above about 0.8 mg/L to below about 0.7 mg/L, and the fluoride ion content is reducible from above about 1 mg/L to below about 0.9 mg/L. The magnesium precipitate is optionally used to neutralize pressure oxidized ore slurry or roaster calcine in the context of gold recovery operations.

Abstract: Novel hydrides are produced by mechanically alloying at least two different hydrides, preferably at least one simple alkali metal hydride and at least one complex alkali metal hydride such as an alkali metal aluminum hydride; the method of production is simple and can be carried out at room temperature; the novel hydrides are useful as a source of hydrogen and have the particular advantage that after liberation of the hydrogen, the hydride is readily regenerated from the dehydrogenated hydride.

Abstract: Drying sodium borohydride dihydrate particles in a flowing stream of a chemically inert drying gas results in novel nearly odor-free, dust-free sodium borohydride particles which are free flowing without the need for anti-caking or flow additives. The dihydrate particles are preferably dried in a fluidized bed formed with a flowing stream of nitrogen.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of undecahydrododecaborate anions [B.sub.12 H.sub.(12-n) (XCN).sub.n ].sup.2- or [B.sub.12 H.sub.11 XH].sup.2- or a nonahydrodecaborate anions [B.sub.10 H.sub.(12-n) (XCN).sub.n ].sup.2- or [B.sub.10 H.sub.9 XH].sup.2- or anions of formula [B.sub.12 H.sub.11 SC(NR.sup.1 R.sup.2).sub.2 ].sup.-1 wherein X=O, S, or Se.