Cars will be refilled with hydrogen in the removable cartridge

Scientists have invented a one-step method of charging hydrogen with ammonia borane. The invention makes hydrogen more attractive fuel for cars and other modes of transport.

In an article published in Science magazine, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Alabama set out the essence of a breakthrough in safety technology of hydrogen storage, developed with support from U.S. Department of Energy.
Hydrogen is in many respects is the ideal fuel. Compared to oil, he has high energy content per unit mass and can be used directly in fuel cells to generate clean electricity. However, hydrogen is and serious drawback - low energy content per unit volume compared with oil. Simply put, the petrol tank of one size with hydrogen provides a larger reserve. The problem is compounded by the high volatility and explosion of hydrogen, which requires additional security measures.
Today, the work of scientists focused on chemical hydrides for hydrogen storage, in particular, ammonia borane, which looks the most promising candidates for hydrogen storage in a safe bound. It allows you to store hydrogen in an amount of 20% of its own weight, enough to create hybrid vehicles, with a range of up to 482 km (norm established by the U.S. Department of Energy).
Hydrogen from ammonia borane is not a problem and runs efficiently enough, but there is a serious obstacle - lack of energy-efficient methods of re-"filling" of spent ammonia borane. After hydrogen evolution gives a compound poliborazilen, which can not be processed efficiently enough for reuse.
U.S. scientists have developed a simple scheme that restores poliborazilen and lets get fit for refueling hydrogen ammonia borane. The main advantage of the new technology lies in the fact that all reactions occur in one "pot", which simplifies the production chain, and approximates the practical use of hydrogen in vehicles.
Regeneration takes place in a sealed vessel under pressure in the presence of hydrazine and liquid ammonia at 40 ° C. In connection with the virulence of ammonia filling process takes place not on board the vehicle - the scientists offer cars equipped with removable cartridges with hydrogen, which can be quickly changed at a gas station and send to the plant for charging.