| Abstract: | Nanostructured metal amides and nitrides are incorporated into nanoporous
templates, such as carbon, using liquid ammonia as a solvent/reagent.
This leads to unexpected improvements in metal amide nanoconfined
hydrogen storage materials. The resulting nanostructured materials may
reversibly absorb and desorb large capacities of hydrogen under
conditions that are much milder compared to what has been achieved with
bulk materials. In addition, the nanoconfined materials may reduce the
amounts of ammonia released upon dehydriding, which may make the released
hydrogen gas purer and may limit the capacity loss. In addition,
nanoconfinement may simplify the reaction mechanism, eliminating
undesired metal imide intermediates and promote hydrogen cycling under
mild conditions. The liquid ammonia method also allows the simultaneous
introduction of catalytic additives along with the parent hydrogen
storage material. |