Composition and method for storing and releasing hydrogen

Abstract

A chemical system for storing and releasing hydrogen utilizes an endothermic reaction that releases hydrogen coupled to an exothermic reaction to drive the process thermodynamically, or an exothermic reaction that releases hydrogen coupled to an endothermic reaction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an experimental set-up for the production of hydrogen from magnesium methoxide.

FIG. 2 shows a plot of thermal hydrogen loss from Mg(OMe)₂ catalyzed by BASF-K3-110.

FIG. 3 shows an infrared spectrum of the thermal reaction of Mg(OMe)₂ catalyzed by BASF-K3-110.

Claims

1. A composition comprising magnesium alkoxide, magnesium hydroxide, and a catalyst.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein magnesium alkoxide comprises magnesium methoxide.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises copper, copper oxide, zinc, zinc oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, palladium platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, mixtures thereof, or alloys thereof.

4. A composition for storing hydrogen comprising: a first component that undergoes an endothermic reaction that releases hydrogen; anda second component in contact with the first component, the second component capable of undergoing an exothermic reaction that provides sufficient energy for the release of hydrogen from the first component.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the endothermic reaction releases a substance that reacts with the second component in an exothermic reaction.

6. A method for releasing hydrogen, comprising: forming a composition comprising a first component and a second component in contact with the first component, the first component capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction that releases hydrogen, and the second component capable of undergoing an exothermic reaction that provides sufficient energy for the release of hydrogen from the first component; andinitiating the exothermic reaction.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising initiating the endothermic reaction.

8. A composition for storing hydrogen comprising: a first component that undergoes an exothermic reaction that releases hydrogen; anda second component that is in contact with the first component and capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction that moderates the exothermic release of hydrogen from the first component.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein said second component releases hydrogen as it moderates the exothermic release of hydrogen from the first component.

10. A method for releasing hydrogen, comprising forming a composition comprising a first component that undergoes an exothermic reaction that releases hydrogen, and a second component in contact with the first component, the second component undergoing an endothermic reaction capable of moderating the exothermic release of hydrogen from the first component, and initiating the exothermic reaction or the endothermic reaction.

11. The method of releasing hydrogen of claim 10, wherein the second component releases hydrogen during the endothermic reaction.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using the second component to moderate the exothermic release of hydrogen from the first component.