Super alkaline earth B18Mg6: Reversible high capacity hydrogen storage at ambient temperature

Title
Super alkaline earth B18Mg6: Reversible high capacity hydrogen storage at ambient temperature
Publication Date
2026-08-30
Author(s)
Van Duong, Long
Nguyen, Minh Tho
Karton, Amir
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7981-508X
Email: akarton@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:akarton
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Place of publication
The Netherlands
DOI
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.240340
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/73978
Abstract

We report a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the mixed boron and magnesium B18Mg6 0/+/2+ clusters, revealing their structural robustness across neutral, cationic, and dicationic states. All charge states exhibit a spheroidal geometry, indicating that the cluster maintains its framework during sequential charge–discharge processes. The dication B18Mg62+ possesses a stabilized π electron configuration with a HOMO–LUMO gap of 2.1 eV, while the cationic and neutral forms arise from controlled electron addition, leading to distinct spin states. The hydrogen storage performance of B18Mg6 0/+/2+ is assessed across different charge states, demonstrating a large adsorption of up to 24H2 molecules (12.44 wt%) at 0K. Under practical conditions, being 70 MPa type IV compressed hydrogen storage tanks, room temperature, the doubly charged cation B18Mg62+ achieves a maximum uptake of 21H2 molecules (11.06 wt%), and charge-assisted desorption enables complete H2 release below 3 MPa at room temperature. This charge-controlled desorption allows a full hydrogen release under milder pressure swings than conventional temperature/pressure-swing or chemical storage methods.

Link
Citation
Journal of Power Sources, v.684, p. 1-12
ISSN
1873-2755
0378-7753
Start page
1
End page
12

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