Stabilized aluminum hydride polymorphs
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsMark A. Petrie, Jeffrey C. Bottaro, Robert J. Schmitt, Paul E. Penwell, David C. Bomberger
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Abstract
The present invention features methods for preparing stabilized α-AlH3 and α′-AlH3, compositions containing these alane polymorphs, e.g., energetic compositions such as rocket propellants, and methods for using the novel polymorphs as chemical reducing agents, polymerization catalysts, and as a hydrogen source in fuel cells and batteries. The method produces stabilized alane by treating α-AlH3 with an acidic solution that optionally contains a stabilizing agent such as an electron donor, an electron acceptor, or a compound which coordinates the Al3+ ion.
Claims11
A stabilized α-AlH3 product prepared by the process comprising:
- (a) reacting an alkali metal hydride with AlCl3 in a solution of diethyl ether to form an initial AlH3 product in a reaction mixture, along with an alkali metal chloride;
- (b) removing the alkali metal chloride from the reaction mixture by filtration;
- (c) adding an excess of toluene to the filtrate resulting from step (b), providing a diethyl ether-toluene solution;
- (d) heating and distilling the diethyl ether-toluene solution to reduce the amount of diethyl ether in the solution, until a precipitate is formed;
- (e) isolating the precipitate;
- (f) adding the precipitate to an acidic solution effective to dissolve and thus remove materials other than α-AlH3;
- and
- (g) isolating α-AlH3 from the acidic solution,
- wherein the acidic solution contains an α-AlH3 stabilizing agent comprised of a compound that coordinates to an Al3+ ion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.