Kinetic studies of the decomposition of NaAlH4 doped with a Ti-based catalyst

The decomposition kinetics of sodium alanate (NaAlH4) and sodium aluminium hexahydride (Na3AlH6) doped with different concentrations of a Ti cluster have been investigated. By applying variable heating rates, hydrogen was released at different speeds and activation energies were determined for both accessible reaction steps. Isothermal decomposition measurements showed that mechanically alloyed Na3AlH6 exhibits faster kinetics than Na3AlH6 obtained from the decomposition of NaAlH4, but decomposes more slowly than the first step of NaAlH4.