Kinetics and the thermal decomposition of Sodium Alanate in the presence of MmNi4.5Al0.5 nanoparticles

Abstract

Sodium Alanate (NaAlH4) is a promising hydrogen storage material due to its high hydrogen content (7.6 wt% of H2), and relatively moderate dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation temperatures. The addition of an appropriate catalyst to NaAlH4 results in a reversible release of 5.5 wt% H2 in a low temperature range of about 90 to 150 °C. Catalyst nano particles of MmNi4.5Al0.5 (henceforth referred to as Mm) to NaAlH4 were added by mechanical ball milling (BM) in mass ratios of 100:5, 100:10, and 100:20, respectively. Thermal decomposition studies were performed at various temperatures (90–150 °C) and a significant improvement in the dehydrogenation was observed after the addition of Mm to the NaAlH4. Un-doped ball milled NaAlH4 released 1.55 wt% of H2 at 150 °C in 60 min, and Mm added NaAlH4 released 3.10–3.25 wt% of H2 were released, respectively. Kinetics analysis was done by using model fit, model free fitting and the obtained activation energy values for both have shown good agreement and the possible decomposition mechanism in all samples by nucleation-growth-saturation mechanism. The improved thermodynamics and kinetics can be attributed to the uniform dispersion and catalytic effect of the Mm nanoparticles, and also to the effect of ball milling.