The Package Matters: Tucking ammonia borane in mesoporous silica results in high-quality hydrogen at lower temperatures
Monday, February 15, 2010 - 09:14
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- When it comes to squeezing hydrogen out of ammonia borane, the packaging matters, according to scientists from three national labs. Ammonia borane releases hydrogen with heating by a multi-step reaction, but the nominal heating required to release that hydrogen requires additional energy, decreasing the overall efficiency. The scientists found that less heat is needed to free the hydrogen when the ammonia borane is confined in a mesoporous form of silica.