Thermal decomposition of LiAlH4 chemically mixed with Lithium amide and transition metal chlorides

Thermogravimetric analysis of LiAlH4 chemically mixed with different additives is reported for the application of hydrogen storage. Here, we illustrated the dehydrogenation properties of combined LiAlH4/LiNH2 (2:1) mixture and LiAlH4 wet-doped with different transition metals (Sc, Ti, and V) in their chloride forms. Thermal gravimetric analysis of LiAlH4/LiNH2 system released ∼7.9 wt.% of hydrogen in three decomposition steps at temperatures between 75 and 280 °C under a heating ramp of 5 °C min−1. The LiAlH4 doped with transition metals showed the decrease of decomposition temperature down to 30–40 °C for both 1st and 2nd dehydrogenation steps as compared to as-received LiAlH4. The catalytic activity in lowering the dehydrogenation temperature of LiAlH4 doped with transition metals increases in the order of pure LiAlH4 < V < Ti < Sc. The X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscopy techniques were carried out in support of the thermogravimetric results.