Facile synthesis and regeneration of Mg(BH4)2 by high energy reactive ball milling of MgB2

Chem Commun (Camb). 2013 Jan 28;49(8):828-30. doi: 10.1039/c2cc36580d.

Abstract

We report direct hydrogenation of MgB(2) in a planetary ball mill. Magnesium borohydride, Mg(BH(4))(2), and various polyhedral borane anion salts have been synthesized at pressures between 50 and 350 bar H(2) without the need for subsequent isothermal hydrogenation at elevated temperature and pressure. The obtained products release ∼4 wt% H(2) below 390 °C, and a major portion of Mg(BH(4))(2) transforms back to MgB(2) at around 300 °C, demonstrating the possibility of reversible hydrogen storage in an Mg(BH(4))(2)-MgB(2) system.