Kinetic Modification on Hydrogen Desorption of Lithium Hydride and Magnesium Amide System

Various synthesis and rehydrogenation processes of lithium hydride (LiH) and magnesium amide (Mg(NH₂)₂) system with 8:3 molar ratio are investigated to understand the kinetic factors and effectively utilize the essential hydrogen desorption properties. For the hydrogen desorption with a solid-solid reaction, it is expected that the kinetic properties become worse by the sintering and phase separation. In fact, it is experimentally found that the low crystalline size and the close contact of LiH and Mg(NH₂)₂ lead to the fast hydrogen desorption. To preserve the potential hydrogen desorption properties, thermochemical and mechanochemical rehydrogenation processes are investigated. Although the only thermochemical process results in slowing the reaction rate due to the crystallization, the ball-milling can recover the original hydrogen desorption properties. Furthermore, the mechanochemical process at 150 °C is useful as the rehydrogenation technique to preserve the suitable crystalline size and mixing state of the reactants. As a result, it is demonstrated that the 8LiH and 3Mg(NH₂)₂ system is recognized as the potential hydrogen storage material to desorb more than 5.5 mass% of H₂ at 150 °C.