Mixed Hydride Materials Offers Hydrogen Storage Solutions
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Au NPs measured along the long-DNA is ~21 nm, which is consistent with the length of the 63-nucleotide circular DNA template and the distance between base pairs in the B form of dsDNA (0.34 nm). This data, as well as AFM studies, strongly suggested to the researchers that the nanoassembly was well defined and periodic. The researchers said that the drawbacks of their system, including polydispersity associated with RCA, are far outweighed by the advantages: the periodicity in 3D is well defined; the distance between the assembled nanospecies can be readily controlled; the assembly is entirely reversible; and multiple assemblies, wherein two or more nanospecies can be simultaneously constructed, can be easily realized. STEVEN TROHALAKI
Mixed Hydride Material Offers Hydrogen Storage Solutions The major roadblock to moving toward a hydrogen economy involves issues with the storage of hydrogen, especially on vehicles. Despite promising strides made in the development of hydrogen storage materials, new and more complex materials systems still need to be developed to adequately resolve the challenges associated with storing hydrogen. In the May issue of Chemical Communications (DOI: 10.1039/b518243c), a team of researchers led by P.A. Anderson from the University of Birmingham (UK), W.I.F. David from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Didcot, UK), and P.P. Edwards from the University of Oxford (UK), have reported the synthesis and structure of a complex hydride formed by combining two potential hydrogen storage materials, LiNH2 and LiBH4. The novel mixed hydride material has a nominal composition of Li4BN3H10, but accommodates a wide range of stoichiometries. The researchers were able to use infrared spectroscopy to determine that the BH4– and NH2– ions remain intact in their material, demonstrating, they said, that the structure is best regarded as Li4BH4(NH2)3. The structure was determined from powder diffraction data using high-intensity x-rays generated by a synchrotron and from neutron powder diffraction experiments. The B–H bonds in the solid solution appear to be stronger relative to the LiBH4 starting material, but one of the B–H bonds is significantly shorter than the other three. In contrast, the N–H bonds seem to be weaker than in LiNH2, as reported by the research team. Most remarkably, the researchers said, this mixed borohydride amide, with a structure similar to LiNH2, shows a different decomposition behavior, almost exclusively evolving hydrogen instead of ammonia. The researchers said that this behavior may originate from the molecular proximity of positively charged hydrogen atoms in NH2 and negatively charged hydrogen in the BH4- anions. Anderson said, “The ability to modify chemically the decomposition pathway of hydrogen-containing compounds could lead to a whole range of completely new hydrogen storage candidates.” SARBAJIT BANERJEE
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