Solvent- and catalyst-free hydrogenation synthesis of lithium hydride at high altitude

Abstract

A solvent- and catalyst-free hydrogenation synthesis methodology for lithium hydride (LiH) was developed at high altitude. The implementation of a dual thermostatic process proved to be pivotal in achieving high-crystallinity in the synthesized LiH. The synthesized LiH demonstrates a high degree of purity, reaching 99%. Hydrolysis experiments were conducted to measure the dehydrogenation amount, revealing a hydrogen weight percentage of 12.1%. The dehydrogenation rate was determined to be as high as 0.90 L/g·min. Furthermore, a comprehensive series of in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopic characterizations were undertaken to elucidate the reaction dynamics of LiH when natural exposed to atmospheric conditions. This study presents an approach for the rapid and efficient production of lithium-based materials on a large scale intended for hydrogen storage.