Thermal decomposition of LiAlH4 chemically mixed with Lithium amide and transition metal chlorides

Thermogravimetric analysis of LiAlH₄ chemically mixed with different additives is reported for the application of hydrogen storage. Here, we illustrated the dehydrogenation properties of combined LiAlH₄/LiNH₂ (2:1) mixture and LiAlH₄ wet-doped with different transition metals (Sc, Ti, and V) in their chloride forms. Thermal gravimetric analysis of LiAlH₄/LiNH₂ system released 7.9 wt.% of hydrogen in three decomposition steps at temperatures between 75 and 280 °C under a heating ramp of 5 °C min⁻¹. The LiAlH₄ doped with transition metals showed the decrease of decomposition temperature down to 30–40 °C for both 1st and 2nd dehydrogenation steps as compared to as-received LiAlH₄. The catalytic activity in lowering the dehydrogenation temperature of LiAlH₄ doped with transition metals increases in the order of pure LiAlH₄ < V < Ti < Sc. The X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscopy techniques were carried out in support of the thermogravimetric results.