Significantly enhanced dehydrogenation properties of calcium borohydride combined with urea

Dalton Trans. 2014 Nov 7;43(41):15291-4. doi: 10.1039/c4dt01355g.

Abstract

The interaction of [BH(x)]- and [NH(x)]-containing species gives rise to molecular hydrogen and the establishment of the B-N bond. Up to now, metal amides and ammonia are the commonly used [NH(x)] sources. Herein, urea, an organic carbonyl diamide, was used to react with Ca(BH4)2. A new type of complex hydride Ca(BH4)2·4CO(NH2)2 was synthesized with release of ca. 5.2 wt% hydrogen below 250 °C.