Issue 1, 2010

Y(BH4)3—an old–new ternary hydrogen store akalearning from a multitude of failures

Abstract

Fourteen different synthetic approaches towards pure solvent-free Y(BH4)3 have been tested, thirteen of which have failed. Attempted reactions of YCl3 or Y(OC4H9)3 with LiBH4 in THF, those of YCl3 with (C4H9)4N+ BH4, as well as between YHx∼3 and R4NBH3 (R = CH3, C2H5) in the presence or absence of a solvent (n-hexane or CH2Cl2) did not lead to the expected product. The mechanochemical solid/solid reactions (MBH4 + 3 YX3→ Y(BH4)3 + 3 LiCl, where M = Li, Na; X = F, Cl) have succeeded only for the LiBH4 and YCl3 reagents, but the separation of the crystalline reaction products (Y(BH4)3 in its Pa[3 with combining macron] phase and LiCl) by dissolution or flotation in various solvents has not been successful. The thermal decomposition process of Y(BH4)3 in a mixture with LiCl has been investigated with thermogravimetric (TGA) and calorimetric analysis (DSC) combined with spectroscopic evolved gas analysis (EGA). Three major endothermic steps could be distinguished in the DSC profile at ca. 232, 282, 475 °C (heating rate 10 K min−1) corresponding to a phase transition and two steps of thermal decomposition. Solid decomposition products are amorphous except for the new cubic polymorph of Y(BH4)3 overlooked in previous work. The high-temperature phase forms at the onset of thermal decomposition and it may be prepared by heating of the low-temperature phase up to a narrow temperature range (194–210 °C) followed by rapid quenching. Y(BH4)3 constitutes a novel highly efficient hydrogen storage material (theor. 9.0 wt% H) but, unfortunately, the evolved H2 is contaminated by toxic boron hydrides and products of their pyrolysis.

Graphical abstract: Y(BH4)3—an old–new ternary hydrogen store aka learning from a multitude of failures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Jun 2009
Accepted
02 Oct 2009
First published
13 Nov 2009

Dalton Trans., 2010,39, 160-166

Y(BH4)3—an old–new ternary hydrogen store aka learning from a multitude of failures

T. Jaroń and W. Grochala, Dalton Trans., 2010, 39, 160 DOI: 10.1039/B910698G

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