Nanoconfined Magnesium Borohydride for Hydrogen Storage Applications Investigated by SANS and SAXS

Nanoscale hydride systems have recently gained increased attention for their possible energy storage applications. In the present work, nanoscale particles of Mg((BD4)-B-11)(2) infiltrated into an activated carbon scaffold were studied by small-angle scattering techniques, and their behavior was compared with that of the bulk powders. Upon heating to 400 degrees C, under dynamic vacuum, the nanoconfined particles maintain their size distribution, and the decomposition affects only the morphology of the particle surface. On the contrary, the bulk powders showed a significant modification of both particle size and surface morphology under the same conditions. The carbon scaffold therefore serves to ensure both the desired nanoscale organization of the magnesium borohydride and stabilization in size of the incorporated material.