Hydrogen storage properties in a composite of lithium hydride and boron nitride with hydrocarbon groups

Abstract: We synthesized BNnanoCH x by ball-milling hBN under methane atmosphere. This BNnanoCH x product itself desorbed not only hydrogen but also hydrocarbons in a wide temperature range from 300 to 900°C. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for BNnanoCH x indicated the existence of the C–H bonding in the material. On the analogy of the CnanoH x –LiH composite reported before, we prepared the composite of BNnanoCH x and LiH. This composite successfully desorbed hydrogen around 200°C, in which the emission of the hydrocarbon gases was strongly suppressed. Thermodynamic and structural properties of the composite showed an interaction between the C–H groups and LiH. Thus we found that the BNnanoCH x –LiH composite is a new hydrogen storage material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]