Chemical Hydrides
Experimental setup used for chemical hydride hydrolysis. Various instruments can be placed between the reaction vessel and the gas burette, including a gas flow meter (shown), a sampling bulb to allow for collection of samples for gas chromatography, or Dräger tubes for low level detection (<1 ppm) of contaminants.
Sodium Borohydride
In this Office of Naval Research (ONR) funded project, we focused on developing volumetrically efficient systems for the catalytic decomposition of sodium borohydride. The research involves all aspects of a fuel cell driven power unit, from low-cost catalysts to volumetrically efficient sodium borohydride conditioning and delivery systems.
Among our accomplishments, our team demonstrated a novel cobalt based catalyst. The work focused on solution combustion synthesis (SCS) for rapidly synthesizing a high-purity, nano-foam cobalt oxide powder. This powder is converted in-situ to a magnetic, active catalyst. The magnetic nature of the active catalyst allows for implementation of magnetic immobilization for use in a hydrogen generation system for fuel cell power.
Decomposition reaction of sodium borohydride with low-cost catalysts
Ammonia Borane
Ammonia borane is a solid state hydrogen storage material that provides a lightweight, low cost, and portable source of energy. Our work with the Office of Naval Research is motivated by the need to provide dismounted infantry with a cost and weight effective power source to replace the heavy batteries currently being carried by soldiers during missions.
