Reactions of both aluminum hydride cluster anions and boron aluminum hydride cluster anions with oxygen: Anionic products

• The products of reaction between (boron) aluminum hydride cluster anions and oxygen were identified.
• Most of the oxidation products were aluminum oxides, unlike in the oxidation of boranes, which has the “HOBO” problem.
• This work explores the renewed possibility of using boron in propulsion applications.

The anionic products of reactions between aluminum hydride cluster anions and oxygen and between boron aluminum hydride cluster anions and oxygen were identified by mass spectrometry. While aluminum oxide anions dominated the products of both reactions, low intensities of hydrogen-containing aluminum oxide product anions were also observed in both cases. Surprisingly, in the reactions between boron aluminum hydride cluster anions and oxygen, there was scant evidence for boron-containing anionic products.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image ( K)Download as PowerPoint slide