Hydrogen storage in amine boranes: Ionic liquid supported thermal dehydrogenation of ethylene diamine bisborane

A variety of ionic liquids has been tested for its catalytic effect on the dehydrogenation of ethylene diamine bisborane (EDB). The catalytic activity of ionic liquids, such as 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride ([BMMIM]Cl), 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium acetate ([BMMIM][OAc]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([BMIM][OAc]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfonate ([BMIM][OMs]) is compared and the mixture [BMMIM]Cl/EDB was investigated. This system is able to deliver about 6.5 wt% of hydrogen at 140 °C competing with conventional hydrogen storage pressure tanks. The correlation between polarity of the ILs and hydrogen yield was investigated and the suitability for hydrogen storage systems is evaluated and discussed.

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► Fast H2-generation from ethylene diamine bisborane (EDB) promoted by ionic liquids.
► Faster generation and higher total hydrogen yield from EDB in presence of IL.
► EDB/IL release H2 within minutes between 100 and 140 °C.
► Systems deliver 6.5 wt% of H2 at 140 °C competing with conventional H2 storage tanks.
► The correlation between the important polarity of ILs and H2 yields was evaluated.