Synthesis and partial dehydrogenation of the impregnated lithium borohydride, LiBH₄

LiBH₄ with high hydrogen density has been attracting great interest as one of potential candidates of advanced hydrogen storage materials. A feasible way to overcome problematic issues on dehydrogenation of LiBH ₄, such as formation of fine powders and overflow by melting, is expected to synthesize bulk LiBH₄ by applying the "impregnation method". In the present study, LiBH₄ on a Ni foam with porosity of 98% homogeneously impregnated the foam at 573 K without changing the original bulk morphology of the foam. The morphology of the impregnated LiBH₄ was also well retained, even after a partial dehydrogenation at 873 K. Some Ni borides were found to be newly formed depending on the heating (dehydrogenation) conditions, and the formation probably dominates the microstructure and dehydrogenation property of the impregnated LiBH₄.