Effects of catalysts doping on the thermal decomposition behavior of Zn(BH4)2

Transition metal complex borohydrides, Zn(BH4)2 have been synthesized by solid-state mechanochemical process. Various catalysts such as TiCl3, TiF3, nanoNi, nanoFe, Ti, nanoTi, and Zn were used to dope the borohydride in order to lower the decomposition temperature in the range of 50-100∘C, without a significant reduction in the hydrogen content per total weight of the sample. In addition, the structural, bonding and thermal characteristics of undoped and catalysts doped Zn(BH4)2 were compared and analyzed to find out the optimum catalyst and dopant concentration. Among the different catalysts, 1.5 mol% of nanoNi obtained from Quantum Sphere Inc. was found to possess the optimum behavior in terms of fast kinetics and lowering the melting and decomposition temperature of Zn(BH4)2.