Investigation of selected complexes and alloys for use in hydrogen storage and related applications

The storage of hydrogen in adequate amounts limits its practical application as a fuel. This is especially important for automotive applications. Metal hydride based storage systems may yet be able to meet these storage parameters. However, no ideal hydride system has yet been identified. This work explores methods of increasing the feasibility of metal hydride based hydrogen storage by: (1) improvement of hydrogen uptake/release in known hydrides through catalysis, and (2) characterization of new hydrides and hydrogen storage materials.;Catalysis work concerns primarily borohydrides due to their large hydrogen content. Catalysis and destabilization of borohydrides by addition of bulk alloy dopants and coupled thermolysis reactions produced only modest improvements in hydrogen release. However, encapsulation of borohydrides by high surface nanoporous silica proved effective and versatile. Careful analysis has revealed the importance of surface interactions between the silica network and borohydrides.;The Cu-Li-Mg system was investigated for hydride formation properties. The unique hydrides of this ternary system show promise as hydrogen storage media, as well as a catalyst in the formation of other light metal hydrides such as TiH2. The catalytic mechanism was identified as solid state hydrogen diffusion between phases.;Additionally, this work encompasses the design and thermal modeling of a volumetric gas titration system for the measurement of hydrogen uptake and release of materials. This system was used to characterize classic hydrogen storage alloy LaNi5, as well as metal decorated polymer adsorbents.;Finally, an assessment is made as to the suitability of metal hydrides and complex hydrides for practical applications. Both storage, and novel applications are addressed for each class of hydride studied.