Activated magnesium boride materials for hydrogen storage

A method of powering a vehicle apparatus using hydrogenated magnesium boride, the method comprising:

• mechanically mixing magnesium boride in the presence of sub-stoichiometric amounts of a modifier that is at least one of an ether, arene, graphene, metal hydride, and metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, magnesium, and aluminum, in an inert atmosphere to form a modified magnesium boride material that is highly activated towards hydrogenation;
• hydrogenating the modified magnesium boride material by subjecting the modified magnesium boride material to hydrogen gas at a pressure of between 100 to 700 bar at a temperature of 75° C. to 300° C. to form magnesium borohydride that maintains a hydrogen cycling capacity of ≥4 wt %;
• controlling the release of hydrogen upon heating the magnesium borohydride in a hydrogen reservoir system;
• and
• powering a vehicle with the released hydrogen.

A method of synthesizing magnesium borohydride from magnesium boride, the method comprising:

• hydrogenating a quantity of a modified magnesium boride that is highly activated towards hydrogenation to form magnesium borohydride;
• wherein the modified magnesium boride is formed by mechanically mixing, sonication or thermal treatment of magnesium boride with a modifier;
• and
• wherein the hydrogenating step is performed after and independent of the step of forming the modified magnesium boride, and wherein the hydrogenating step is at a temperature between 75° C. and 300° C.