Vincenza D'Anna

Al3Li4(BH4)13: a complex double-cation borohydride with a new structure.

The new double-cation Al-Li-borohydride is an attractive candidate material for hydrogen storage due to a very low hydrogen desorption temperature (approximately 70 degrees C) combined with a high hydrogen density (17.2 wt%). It was synthesised by high-energy ball milling of AlCl(3) and LiBH(4). The structure of the compound was determined from image-plate synchrotron powder diffraction supported by DFT calculations. The material shows a unique 3D framework structure within the borohydrides (space group=P-43n, a=11.3640(3) A). The unexpected composition Al(3)Li(4)(BH(4))(13) can be rationalized on the basis of a complex cation [(BH(4))Li(4)](3+) and a complex anion [Al(BH(4))(4)](-). The refinements from synchrotron powder diffraction of different samples revealed the presence of limited amounts of chloride ions replacing the borohydride on one site. In situ Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and thermal desorption measurements were used to study the decomposition pathway of the compound. Al-Li-borohydride decomposes at approximately 70 degrees C, forming LiBH(4). The high mass loss of about 20 % during the decomposition indicates the release of not only hydrogen but also diborane.

Novel sodium aluminium borohydride containing the complex anion [Al(BH4,Cl)4]-.

The synthesis of a novel alkali-metal aluminium borohydride NaAl(BH4)xCl4-x from NaBH4 and AlCl3 using a solid state metathesis reaction is described. Structure determination was carried out using synchrotron powder diffraction data and vibrational spectroscopy. An orthorhombic structure (space group Pmn2(1)) is formed which contains Na+ cations and complex [Al(BH4,Cl)4]- anions. Due to the high chlorine content (1 < or = x < or = 1.43) the hydrogen density of the borohydride is only between 2.3 and 3.5 wt.% H2 in contrast to the expected 14.6 wt.% for chlorine free NaAl(BH4)4. The decomposition of NaAl(BH4)xCl4-x is observed in the target range for desorption at about 90 degrees C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in situ Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) shows extensive mass loss indicating the loss of H2 and B2H6 at about 90 degrees C followed by extensive weight loss in the form of chloride evaporation.

Synthesis and Characterization of NaBD3H, A Potential Structural Probe for Hydrogen Storage Materials

Specifically labeled NaBD(3)H has been synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction, NMR, and vibrational spectroscopy. The isotopic purity of the compound, as estimated from NMR spectra, was found to be about 85% with the compound NaBD(2)H(2) as the second product. IR spectra confirm the relatively strong intensity of the single B-H stretching mode predicted from DFT calculations. Anharmonic DFT calculations show that for the BD(3)H(-) ion Fermi resonances with the single B-H stretching mode are very limited, making this mode a promising structural probe for complex borohydrides which can be prepared by metathetical reactions.

Study of surfactant alcohols with various chemical moieties at the hydrophilic–hydrophobic interface

The melting behavior, the solubility, and the influence of hydrogen bonds were analyzed for a series of single- and double-tailed surfactant alcohols. Various effects such as the presence of free amides or the intermolecular spacing were found to be important factors for increasing or decreasing the melting temperature of a surfactant. Furthermore, we present a model for the packing of diamido-lipids and study the temperature-dependence of the IR signals.