Ammonia borane confined by a metal-organic framework for chemical hydrogen storage: enhancing kinetics and eliminating ammonia.

A system involving ammonia borane (AB) confined in a metal-organic framework (JUC-32-Y) was synthesized. The hypothesis of nanoconfinement and metallic catalysis was tested and found to be effective for enhancing the hydrogen release kinetics and preventing the formation of ammonia. The AB in JUC-32-Y started to release hydrogen at a temperature as low as 50 degrees C. The peak temperature of decomposition decreased 30 degrees C (shifted to 84 degrees C). AB inside JUC-32-Y can release 8.2 wt % hydrogen in 3 min at 95 degrees C and 8.0 and 10.2 wt % hydrogen within 10 min at 85 degrees C.