Lithium borohydride–melamine complex as a promising material for chemical hydrogen storage

A complex hydride, 3LiBH4·C3N6H6, crystallizing in monoclinic structure with lattice parameters of a = 17.4701 Å, b = 17.6332 Å, c = 4.1749 Å, β = 99.7453° and V = 1267.54 Å3, was synthesized by solid reaction between LiBH4 and C3N6H6. 3LiBH4·C3N6H6 starts to evolve hydrogen at 100 °C, which is 190 °C lower than that of pristine LiBH4. Combination of protic hydrogen of [BH4]− and hydridic hydrogen of NH in 3LiBH4·C3N6H6 may greatly improve the dehydrogenation properties, and totally 7.83 wt.% H2 can be released from 3LiBH4·C3N6H6 in the temperature range of 100–340 °C.

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► 3LiBH4·C3H6N6 was synthesized by ball milling of LiBH4 and C3H6N6.
► 3LiBH4·C3N6H6 starts to evolve hydrogen at ca. 100 °C.
► 7.83 wt.% of Hydrogen can be evolved in the temperature range of 100–340 °C.
► Combination reaction between NH and BH can improve dehydrogenation properties.