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CC BY 4.0 · Sustainability & Circularity NOW 2025; 02: a25082332
DOI: 10.1055/a-2508-2332
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Beyond Hydrolysis: Scalable, On-Demand Dihydrogen Release from NaBH4 Enables Circular and Sustainable Process Design

Pier W. Wessels
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Caroline J. Verhoef
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Florenz Buß
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Valentin Geiger
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
G. Bas de Jong
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Tim Wesselingh
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Philip Germanacos
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
J. Chris Slootweg 
1   Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations Funding Information This research is supported financially by the project Sustainable Hydrogen Integrated Propulsion Drives (SH2IPDRIVE), which has received funding from RvO (reference number MOB21013) through the RDM regulation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, as well as H2Fuel B.V. and a RVO/TKI Chemistry PPS-project subsidy (CHEMIE.PJT.2022.001).
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Abstract

Hydrogen storage in its elemental form poses significant safety and economic challenges. Metal hydrides, particularly sodium borohydride, offer a promising alternative because of their superior safety profiles and enhanced transportability. This study presents a scalable hydrogen release system based on sodium borohydride and commercially available alcohols and acids. The system enables rapid, controlled hydrogen generation, achieving quantitative yields. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to propose a mechanism for the alcoholysis of NaBH4 with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and acid present. It was demonstrated that the reaction proceeds via isopropoxy-substituted borane derivatives BH(3−n)(O i Pr) n (for n = 0, 1, 2, 3), which can form Lewis acid–base adducts with IPA. These Lewis acid–base adducts serve as reaction complexes for σ-bond metathesis, upon which an equivalent of hydrogen gas is released. Notably, the spent fuel can be regenerated to sodium borohydride using established chemical reactions, ensuring the system's sustainability and applicability for larger-scale hydrogen production.

Keywords

Hydrogen storage - NaBH4 - Energy transition - Alcoholysis - Semi-alcoholysis

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 25 November 2024

Accepted after revision: 23 December 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
24 December 2024

Article published online:
07 February 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Bibliographical Record
Pier W. Wessels, Caroline J. Verhoef, Florenz Buß, Valentin Geiger, G. Bas de Jong, Tim Wesselingh, Philip Germanacos, J. Chris Slootweg. Beyond Hydrolysis: Scalable, On-Demand Dihydrogen Release from NaBH4 Enables Circular and Sustainable Process Design. Sustainability & Circularity NOW 2025; 02: a25082332.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2508-2332
 

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