Progress in sodium borohydride as a hydrogen storage material: Development of hydrolysis catalysts and reaction systems

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2011-05, Vol.36 (10), p.5983-5997
• Main Authors: Muir, Sean S., Yao, Xiangdong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Borohydrides; Byproducts; Catalysis; Catalysts; Design engineering; DOE target; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen storage materials; Hydrolysis catalyst; Reactor design; Sodium; Sodium borohydride
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.02.032

Over the past decade, sodium borohydride (NaBH 4) has been extensively investigated as a potential hydrogen storage material. The development of catalyst materials for on demand NaBH 4 hydrolysis, and the design of practical reaction systems for hydrogen storage based on NaBH 4 are key research areas. Progress in the former area has been promising, with many non-noble catalysts being reported with activities comparable to those of higher-cost noble metal catalysts. However, the design of practical hydrogen storage systems remains a critical issue, as identified by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in their “No-Go” recommendation in 2007. The problems of by-product precipitation and catalyst blockage at high NaBH 4 concentrations must be addressed in order to produce a hydrogen storage system capable of meeting the DOE target of 5.5 wt% H 2 (2015). It is likely that a new, novel reaction system design will be required to achieve these targets, given the limitations identified in conventional systems. Moreover, a new process for regenerating spent NaBH 4 will need to be developed, in order to lower its cost to a viable level for use as a transportation fuel.