LAUSR

Abstract LiBH 4 @xZZCO composites are successfully synthesized by confining LiBH 4 in hierarchical porous ZnO/ZnCo 2 O 4 (ZZCO) nanoparticles via a chemical impregnation method, and the effect of ZZCO on the dehydrogenation performance is systematically investigated. It is found that dehydrogenation properties of LiBH 4 are significantly improved, especially for the LiBH 4 @2ZZCO composite. The onset desorption temperature of LiBH 4 @2ZZCO is decreased to 169 °C, and the majority of hydrogen release occurs at 275 °C, much lower than raw LiBH 4 . In addition, 8.7 wt% H 2 could be released below 500 °C. Moreover, the apparent activation energy ( E a) has been reduced from 146 kJ/mol (pure LiBH 4 ) to 120.22 kJ/mol. The improved dehydrogenation properties are attributed to the synergistic effect of nanoconfinement and destabilization of ZZCO nanoparticles.