A method of making a salt of the formula: Mg[Al(R).sub.4].sub.2, where R represents a compound selected from a de-protonated alcohol or thiol; an amine; or a mixture thereof. The method comprising the steps of; combining a Mg(AlH.sub.4).sub.2 precursor with an alcohol, thiol or amine of the general formula RH to create a reaction liquor containing Mg[Al(R).sub.4].sub.2; and washing the reaction liquor in an organic solvent.

A solid-state hydrogen storage device includes a first storage for storing a reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material, a reactor disposed in the first storage to enable a hydrolysis reaction of a non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material to be performed therein, and a fuel cell stack, wherein the non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material is stored in the reactor, and wherein the non-reversible solid-state hydrogen storage material releases heat when the hydrolysis is performed.

The present invention generally concerns isolated nanoparticles via the decomposition of a ternary metal hydride. More specifically, the present invention harnesses increased energy densities from two distinct nanoparticles isolated by a precise decomposition of LiAlH.sub.4. The singular material is air stable and is a nanocomposite of Li.sub.3AlH.sub.6 nanoparticles, elemental Al nanoparticles, an amount of Ti metal, and a nanoscale organic layer, which we call nMx. The nanocomposite protects and preserves the high energy densities of the core metals isolated from the controlled reaction and makes the nanoparticles safe to handle in air. The final composite is devoid of byproducts or phase transitions that will decrease the energy output of the nanocomposite. The method of the present invention creates a narrow distribution of nanoparticles that have unique burning characteristics useful for many applications.

A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems based on metal hydride pairs using new class of high efficiency materials are evaluated. The use of low temperature metal cost effective material such hydrides NaAlH4 and Na3AlH6 became possible. In order to obtain high efficiency at reasonable cost high temperature materials were altered by the addition of materials to form reversible alloys and hydrides. The compounds were cycled to determine stability of hydrogen capacity over extended number of cycling. A thermal energy storage system based on two metal hydride pairs such as CaAl/CaH2/Al:NaAlH.sub.4, Ca.sub.2Si/CaH.sub.2/Si:Na.sub.3AlH.sub.6 and NaMgH.sub.2FSi/Mg2SiNaF:Na.sub.3AlH.sub.6 allows low cost and high efficiency performance.

A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

The present invention generally concerns isolated nanoparticles via the decomposition of a ternary metal hydride. More specifically, the present invention harnesses increased energy densities from two distinct nanoparticles isolated by a precise decomposition of LiAlH.sub.4. The singular material is air stable and is a nanocomposite of Li.sub.3AlH.sub.6 nanoparticles, elemental Al nanoparticles, an amount of Ti metal, and a nanoscale organic layer, which we call nMx. The nanocomposite protects and preserves the high energy densities of the core metals isolated from the controlled reaction and makes the nanoparticles safe to handle in air. The final composite is devoid of byproducts or phase transitions that will decrease the energy output of the nanocomposite. The method of the present invention creates a narrow distribution of nanoparticles that have unique burning characteristics useful for many applications.

A method of making neopentasilane, the method comprising: contacting perchloroneopentasilane with a reductive effective amount of an alkali metal aluminum hydride in an alkylaluminum compound of formula R.sub.xAlCl.sub.3-x, where R is alkyl having from at least 5 carbon atoms, x is an integer from 1 to 3, and the alkylaluminum compound has a boiling point of at least 250 C., at conditions sufficient to reduce the perchloroneopentasilane, to form a reaction product mixture comprising neopentasilane, and separating the neopentasilane from the product mixture to form a neopentasilane isolate.

A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

A composite storage tank system for gaseous hydrogen comprises a composite storage tank having composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume, the composite wall including a metal hydride element, or a metal element capable of forming a metal hydride in the presence of hydrogen, the system further comprising measuring apparatus arranged to measure an electrical characteristic of the metal hydride element or the metal element. The history of leakage of gaseous hydrogen from the tank, the current rate of leakage and the physical condition of the composite wall in the vicinity of the metal or metal hydride element may be inferred from a measurement of the electrical characteristic, without taking the tank out of service as is required in the case of known leaks tests such as a vacuum test, helium leak test or hydrogen sniffing test.