Nanosheet-like Lithium Borohydride Hydrate with 10 wt % Hydrogen Release at 70 °C as a Chemical Hydrogen Storage Candidate.

Abstract

A nanosheet-like lithium borohydride hydrate (LiBH4·H2O) measuring 20-30 nm in thickness is successfully synthesized for the first time by a facile, scalable freeze-drying strategy. The prepared LiBH4·H2O nanosheets start releasing hydrogen below 50 °C and release an amount up to approximately 10 wt % at 70 °C because of the strong affinity of H+ in the H2O ligand and H- in the BH4 group. The reported dehydrogenation properties here are superior to those of all known complex hydrides, indicating applicability as an advanced chemical hydrogen storage medium.