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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Investigation of Hydrogen Release from Ethane 1,2-di-amineborane

The thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen (H2) release from ethane 1,2-di-amineborane (EDAB, BH3NH2CH2CH2NH2BH3) were measured using Calvet and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), pressure-composition isotherms, and volumetric gas-burette experiments. The results presented here indicate that EDAB releases ~ 9 wt.% H2 at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 200 °C in two moderately exothermic steps, approximately -10±1 kJ/mol H2 and -3.8±1 kJ/mol H2. Isothermal kinetic analysis shows that EDAB is more stable than ammonia borane (AB) at temperatures lower than 100°C; however, the rates of hydrogen release are faster for EDAB than for AB at temperatures higher than 120°C. In addition, no volatile impurities in the H2 released by EDAB were detected by mass spectrometry upon heating with 1°C/min to 200°C in a calorimeter.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2011

Systems Modeling of Chemical Hydride Hydrogen Storage Materials for Fuel Cell Applications

A fixed bed reactor was designed, modeled and simulated for hydrogen storage on-board the vehicle for PEM fuel cell applications. Ammonia Borane (AB) was selected by DOE's Hydrogen Storage Engineering Center of Excellence (HSECoE) as the initial chemical hydride of study because of its high hydrogen storage capacity (up to {approx}16% by weight for the release of {approx}2.5 molar equivalents of hydrogen gas) and its stability under typical ambient conditions. The design evaluated consisted of a tank with 8 thermally isolated sections in which H2 flows freely between sections to provide ballast. Heating elements are used to initiate reactions in each section when pressure drops below a specified level in the tank. Reactor models in Excel and COMSOL were developed to demonstrate the proof-of-concept, which was then used to develop systems models in Matlab/Simulink. Experiments and drive cycle simulations showed that the storage system meets thirteen 2010 DOE targets in entirety and the remaining four at greater than 60% of the target.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Engineering Challenges of Solution and Slurry-Phase Chemical Hydrogen Storage Materials for Automotive Fuel Cell Applications

In this work, we present the research findings of the DOE-funded Hydrogen Storage Engineering Center of Excellence (HSECoE) related to liquid-phase and slurry-phase chemical hydrogen storage media and their potential as future hydrogen storage media for automotive applications. Chemical hydrogen storage media other than neat liquid compositions will prove difficult to meet the DOE system level targets. Solid- and slurry-phase chemical hydrogen storage media requiring off-board regeneration are impractical and highly unlikely to be implemented for automotive applications because of the formidable task of developing solid- or slurry-phase transport systems that are commercially reliable and economical throughout the entire life cycle of the fuel. Additionally, the regeneration cost and efficiency of chemical hydrogen storage media is currently the single most prohibitive barrier to implementing chemical hydrogen storage media. Ideally, neat liquid-phase chemical hydrogen storage media with net-usable gravimetric hydrogen capacities of greater than 7.8 wt% are projected to meet the 2017 DOE system level gravimetric and volumetric targets. The research presented herein is a collection of research findings that do not in and of themselves warrant a dedicated manuscript. However, the collection of results do, in fact, highlight the engineering challenges and short-comings in scaling up and demonstrating fluid-phase ammonia borane and alane compositions that all future materials researchers working in hydrogen storage should be aware of.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Small Molecule Activation with Intramolecular “Inverse” Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The intramolecular “inverse” frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) of general formula 1-BR 2 -2-[(Me 2 N) 2 C=N]-C 6 H 4 (3-6) [BR 2 = BMes 2 (3), BC 12 H 8 , (4), BBN (5), BBNO (6)] were synthesized and structurally characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. Furthermore, these novel types of pre-organized FLPs, featuring strongly basic guanidino units rigidly linked to weakly Lewis acidic boryl moieties via an ortho-phenylene linker, are capable of activating H-H, C-H, N-H, O-H, Si-H, B-H and C=O bonds. 4 and 5 deprotonated terminal alkynes to form the zwitterionic borates 1-(RC≡C-BR 2 )-2-[(Me 2 N) 2 C=NH]-C 6 H 4 (R = Ph, H) and reacted with ammonia, BnNH 2 and pyrrolidine, to generate the adducts 1-(R 2 HN→BR 2 )-2-[(Me 2 N) 2 C=NH]-C 6 H 4 , where the N-H functionality is activated by intramolecular H-bond interactions. In addition, 5 was found to rapidly add across the double bond of H 2 CO, PhCHO and PhNCO to form cyclic zwitterionic guanidinium borates in excellent yields. Likewise, 5 is capable of cleaving H 2 , HBPin and PhSiH 3 to form various amino boranes. Collectively, the results demonstrate that these new types of intramolecular FLPs featuring weakly Lewis acidic boryl and strongly basic guanidino moieties are as potent as conventional intramolecular FLPs with strongly Lewis acidic units in activating small molecules.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2011

Characterization and Mechanistic Studies of the Dehydrogenation of NHxBHx Materials

In this review we cover the recent developments providing insight into the chemical and physical properties for a series of hydrogen-rich NBHx materials that are of interest as energy storage media for fuel cell power applications. These materials, ammonium borohydride (ABH2, [NH4][BH4]; 240 g H2/kg; 165 g/liter), ammonia borane (AB, [NH3BH3]; 196 g H2/kg; 147 g/liter) and diammoniate of diborane (DADB, [NH3BH2NH3][BH4]; 196 g H2/kg; ca. 151 g/liter), release hydrogen by a series of moderately exothermic reaction pathways. The advantage of these materials is that hydrogen release is kinetically controlled and occurs at relatively low temperatures and moderate pressures. The challenges are devising economical pathways to regenerate the fully charged hydrogen storage materials off board and understanding and controlling the formation of volatile impurities that decrease the purity of the hydrogen available for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. The focus of this review is on the solid phase ABH2, AB and DADB materials to complement the coverage of AB in other recent review articles [1-2]. Additional discussion is given on the decomposition products of these materials, polyaminoborane (PAB, [NH2BH2]n) and polyiminoborane (PIB, [NHBH]n). The article is organized into 3 sections, (i) Synthesis and stuctural characterization; (ii) Kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrogen release and (iii) Outstanding challenges for breakthroughs. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2018

Design Tool for Estimating Chemical Hydrogen Storage System Characteristics for Light-Duty Fuel Cell Vehicles

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a vehicle framework model to simulate fuel cell-based light-duty vehicle operation for various hydrogen storage systems. This transient model simulates the performance of the storage system, fuel cell, and vehicle for comparison to DOE’s Technical Targets using four drive cycles/profiles. Chemical hydrogen storage models have been developed for the Framework model for both exothermic and endothermic materials. Despite the utility of such models, they require that material researchers input system design specifications that cannot be easily estimated. To address this challenge, a design tool has been developed that allows researchers to directly enter kinetic and thermodynamic chemical hydrogen storage material properties into a simple sizing module that then estimates the systems parameters required to run the storage system model. Additionally, this design tool can be used as a standalone executable file to estimate the storage system mass and volume outside of the framework model and compare it to the DOE Technical Targets. These models will be explained and exercised with existing hydrogen storage materials.

hydrogen storage materials, Fuel Cell Vehicles, de↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis and Engineering Materials Properties of Fluid Phase Chemical Hydrogen Storage Materials for Automotive Applications

Among candidates for chemical hydrogen storage in PEM fuel cell automotive applications, ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3) is considered to be one of the most promising materials due to its high practical hydrogen content of 14-16 wt%. This material is selected as a surrogate chemical for a hydrogen storage system. For easier transition to the existing infrastructure, a fluid phase hydrogen storage material is very attractive and thus, we investigated the engineering materials properties of AB in liquid carriers for a chemical hydrogen storage slurry system. Slurries composed of AB and high temperature liquids were prepared by mechanical milling and sonication in order to obtain stable and fluidic properties. Volumetric gas burette system was adopted to observe the kinetics of the H2 release reactions of the AB slurry and neat AB. Viscometry and microscopy were employed to further characterize slurries engineering properties. Using a tip-sonication method we have produced AB/silicone fluid slurries at solid loadings up to 40wt% (6.5wt% H2) with viscosities less than 500cP at 25°C.

ammonia borane↗
DOE OSTI2016

Materials Engineering and Scale Up of Fluid Phase Chemical Hydrogen Storage for Automotive Applications

Among candidates for chemical hydrogen storage in PEM fuel cell automotive applications, ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3) is considered to be one of the most promising materials due to its high hydrogen content of 14-16 wt% below 200°C and high volumetric density. In our previous paper, we selected AB in silicone oil as a role model for a slurry hydrogen storage system. Materials engineering properties were optimized by increasing solid loading by using an ultra-sonic process. In this paper, we proceeded to scale up to liter size batches with solid loadings up to 50 wt% (8 wt% H2) with dynamic viscosities less than 1000cP at 25°C. The use of a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-15, shows significant promise in controlling the level of foaming produced during the thermal dehydrogenation of the AB. Through the development of new and efficient processing techniques and the ability to adequately control the foaming, stable homogenous slurries of high solid loading have been demonstrated as a viable hydrogen delivery source.

ammonia borane↗
DOE OSTI2025

Distinguishing Desirable and Undesirable Reactions in Multicomponent Systems for Redox Activation of the Uranyl Ion

Although it has been established that covalent functionalization of the U–O bonds in the uranyl dication (UO 2 2+ ) generally requires use of strong reductants and electrophiles, little work has examined how interactions between the individual reaction components could affect final outcomes in solution. Here, the patterns of such reactivity have been studied in a UO 2 2+ -containing model system supported by a workhorse pentadentate ligand, 2,2′-[(methylimino)bis(2,1-ethanediylnitrilomethylidyne)]bis-phenol. Oxo activation and functionalization have been tested with (i) electrochemical and chemical reduction, and (ii) coordinating and noncoordinating solvents. In acetonitrile, uranyl reduction was achieved cleanly, but treatment of the reduced species with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) resulted in a mixture of products arising from direct electron transfer to BCF. In dichloromethane (CH 2 Cl 2 ), electrochemical reduction of uranyl was achieved cleanly, but clean chemical reactivity was inaccessible. Despite these challenges, one trinuclear and oxo-deficient uranium-containing product was crystallized from CH 2 Cl 2 solution and characterized; thus, desirable electrophilic reactivity can proceed to some degree in CH 2 Cl 2 with BCF. Computational studies were used to investigate the properties of the trinuclear uranium product and the changes that could be inducible by further reduction. Here, taken together, the reactivity patterns identified here could inform design of improved systems for actinyl oxo functionalization.

cations↗
DOE OSTI2011

Composition-Controlled Synthesis of Bimetallic PdPt Nanoparticles and Their Electrocatalysis for Methanol Oxidation Reaction

PdPt alloy nanoparticles (NPs) are promising catalysts for various chemical reactions because of the presence of powerful catalytic components of Pt and Pd on the surface of one nanostructure. In this paper, we report a facile synthesis of polyhedral PdPt alloy NPs via coreduction of Pd(acac){sub 2} (acac = acetylacetonate) and Pt(acac)2 with morpholine borane in oleylamine at 90 and 180 C. In the synthesis, the molar ratio of the two metal precursors added in the reaction mixture was carried over to the final PdPt NP product, and compositions of the PdPt NPs were readily tuned from Pd{sub 88}Pt{sub 12} to Pd{sub 34}Pt{sub 66}. These PdPt NPs show the composition-dependent catalytic activity for methanol oxidation, with NPs in 40-60 atomic % Pt exhibiting the superior activity and durability.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Thermochemistry of Lewis Adducts of BH 3 and Nucleophilic Substitution of Triethylamine on NH 3 BH 3 in Tetrahydrofuran

The thermochemistry of the formation of Lewis base adducts of BH 3 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution and the gas phase and the kinetics of substitution on ammonia borane by triethylamine are reported. The dative bond energy of Lewis adducts were predicted using density functional theory at the B3LYP/DZVP2 and B3LYP/6-311+G** levels and correlated ab initio molecular orbital theories, including MP2, G3(MP2), and G3(MP2)B3LYP, and compared with available experimental data and accurate CCSD(T)/CBS theory results. The analysis showed that the G3 methods using either the MP2 or the B3LYP geometries reproduce the benchmark results usually to within ~1 kcal/mol. Energies calculated at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level for geometries optimized at the B3LYP/DZVP2 or B3LYP/6-311+G** levels give dative bond energies 2-4 kcal/mol larger than benchmark values. The enthalpies for forming adducts in THF were determined by calorimetry and compared with the calculated energies for the gas phase reaction: THFBH 3 + L → LBH 3 + THF. The formation of NH 3 BH 3 in THF was observed to yield significantly more heat than gas phase dative bond energies predict, consistent with strong solvation of NH 3 BH 3 . Substitution of NEt 3 on NH 3 BH 3 is an equilibrium process in THF solution (K ≈ 0.2 at 25 °C). The reaction obeys a reversible bimolecular kinetic rate law with the Arrhenius parameters: log A = 14.7 ± 1.1 and E a = 28.1 ± 1.5 kcal/mol. Finally, simulation of the mechanism using the SM8 continuum solvation model shows the reaction most likely proceeds primarily by a classical S N 2 mechanism.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Charge Retention by Gold Clusters on Surfaces Prepared Using Soft Landing of Mass Selected Ions

Monodisperse gold clusters have been prepared on surfaces in different charge states through soft landing of mass-selected ions. Ligand-stabilized gold clusters were prepared in methanol solution by reduction of chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) with borane tert-butylamine complex in the presence of 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane. Electrospray ionization was used to introduce the clusters into the gas-phase and mass-selection was employed to isolate a single ionic cluster species (Au11L53+, L = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) which was delivered to surfaces at well controlled kinetic energies. Using in-situ time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) it is demonstrated that the Au11L53+ cluster retains its 3+ charge state when soft landed onto the surface of a 1H,1H,2H,2H-

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electrochemical Reactivity of Hydrogen Storage Materials: Exploring Borohydride and Hydrazinium Salt Mixtures

Electrochemical characterization of hydrogen storage materials was conducted in a non-aqueous environment to investigate the direct electrochemical release and consumption of hydrogen and the potential for regeneration. We first address the challenge of minimal solubility of the synthetic precursors, sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) and hydrazinium bromide (N 2 H 5 Br), in both organic and inorganic solvents. We next determine and calibrate a reference electrode formulation compatible with our non-aqueous media and analytes that demonstrates a stable reference potential. We employ cyclic voltammetry (CV) to characterize the precursors and mixtures thereof. Each CV peak is assigned to a corresponding electrochemical reaction. Using the rate-dependent CV method and Randles–Ševčík equation, we calculate the diffusion coefficient of each chemical (NaBH 4 and N 2 H 5 Br). Analysis of the CVs, coupled with 11B NMR analysis, reveals a room temperature chemical transformation of NaBH 4 and N 2 H 5 Br mixtures into hydrazine borane (N 2 H 4 BH 3 ). These results are particularly significant, considering the limited information available on the electrochemical characterization of metal borohydride and hydrazinium salt in non-aqueous media. This work establishes a foundation for adapting a non-aqueous electrochemical system to further study the borohydride family of chemistries and to design and develop electrochemical devices for direct electrical and chemical energy interconversion with hydrogen storage materials.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2012

Chemical Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage in Fuel Cell Applications

Due to its high hydrogen storage capacity (up to 19.6% by weight for the release of 2.5 molar equivalents of hydrogen gas) and its stability under typical ambient conditions, ammonia borane (AB) is a promising material for chemical hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications in transportation sector. Several systems models for chemical hydride materials such as solid AB, liquid AB and alane were developed and evaluated at PNNL to determine an optimal configuration that would meet the 2010 and future DOE targets for hydrogen storage. This paper presents an overview of those systems models and discusses the simulation results for various transient drive cycle scenarios.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2010

Storing Hydrogen

Researchers have been studying mesoporous materials for almost two decades with a view to using them as hosts for small molecules and scaffolds for molding organic compounds into new hybrid materials and nanoparticles. Their use as potential storage systems for large quantities of hydrogen has also been mooted. Such systems that might hold large quantities of hydrogen safely and in a very compact volume would have enormous potential for powering fuel cell vehicles, for instance. A sponge-like form of silicon dioxide, the stuff of sand particles and computer chips, can soak up and store other compounds including hydrogen. Studies carried out at the XOR/BESSRC 11-ID-B beamline at the APS have revealed that the nanoscopic properties of the hydrogenrich compound ammonia borane help it store hydrogen more efficiently than usual. The material may have potential for addressing the storage issues associated with a future hydrogen economy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2019

Addition of the Lewis Acid Zn(C 6 F 5 ) 2 Enables Organic Transistors with a Maximum Hole Mobility in Excess of 20 cm 2 V –1 s –1

Incorporating the molecular organic Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane [B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ] into organic semiconductors has shown remarkable promise in recent years for controlling the operating characteristics and performance of various opto/electronic devices, including, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). Despite the demonstrated potential, however, to date most of the work has been limited to B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 with the latter serving as the prototypical air-stable molecular Lewis acid system. Herein, the use of bis(pentafluorophenyl)zinc [Zn(C 6 F 5 ) 2 ] is reported as an alternative Lewis acid additive in high-hole-mobility OTFTs based on small-molecule:polymer blends comprising 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno [3,2-b][1]benzothiophene and indacenodithiophene–benzothiadiazole. Systematic analysis of the materials and device characteristics supports the hypothesis that Zn(C 6 F 5 ) 2 acts simultaneously as a p-dopant and a microstructure modifier. It is proposed that it is the combination of these synergistic effects that leads to OTFTs with a maximum hole mobility value of 21.5 cm 2 V –1 s –1 . In conclusion, the work not only highlights Zn(C 6 F 5 ) 2 as a promising new additive for next-generation optoelectronic devices, but also opens up new avenues in the search for high-mobility organic semiconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗