Effect of different additives on the properties of lithium alanate

LiAlH4 doped with Ni and Ce(SO4)2 additives and the effect of doping on temperature and hydrogen release were studied by pressure-content-temperature (PCT) experiment and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. It is indicated that doping with Ni induces a significant decrease in temperature in the first step and LiAlH4 doped with 1mol% Ni presents the most absorption of hydrogen. Doping with Ce(SO4)2 also causes a marked decrease, while the amount of hydrogen release changes only slightly. The results from X-ray diffraction analysis show that doping does not cause any structural change; Ni and Ce-containing phases are not observed at room temperature or even at 250°C.