A comprehensive study on lithium-based reactive hydride composite (Li-RHC) as a reversible solid-state hydrogen storage system toward potential mobile applications.

Reversible solid-state hydrogen storage is one of the key technologies toward pollutant-free and sustainable energy conversion. The composite system LiBH-MgH can reversibly store hydrogen with a gravimetric capacity of 13 wt%. However, its dehydrogenation/hydrogenation kinetics is extremely sluggish (∼40 h) which hinders its usage for commercial applications.

Structural and kinetic investigation of the hydride composite Ca(BH4)2 + MgH2 system doped with NbF5 for solid-state hydrogen storage.

Designing safe, compact and high capacity hydrogen storage systems is the key step towards introducing a pollutant free hydrogen technology into a broad field of applications. Due to the chemical bonds of hydrogen-metal atoms, metal hydrides provide high energy density in safe hydrogen storage media. Reactive hydride composites (RHCs) are a promising class of high capacity solid state hydrogen storage systems.

On the chemical state and distribution of Zr- and V-based additives in reactive hydride composites.

Reactive hydride composites (RHCs) are very promising hydrogen storage materials for future applications due to their reduced reaction enthalpies and high gravimetric capacities. At present, the materials' functionality is limited by the reaction kinetics. A significant positive influence can be observed with addition of transition-metal-based additives.

Online SAXS investigations of polymeric hollow fibre membranes.

Polymeric membranes are used in industrial and analytical separation techniques. In this study small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with synchrotron radiation has been applied for in-situ characterisation during formation of polymeric membranes. The spinning of a polyetherimide (PEI) hollow fibre membrane was chosen for investigation of dynamic aggregation processes during membrane formation, because it allows the measurement of the dynamic equilibrium at different distances from the spinning nozzle.

Characterisation of structure and aggregation processes of aquatic humic substances using small-angle scattering and X-ray microscopy.

Aquatic humic substances (HS), an important part of the dissolved organic carbon in freshwater systems, are polyfunctional natural compounds with polydisperse structure showing strong aggregation/coagulation behaviour at high HS concentrations and in the presence of metal ions. In this study, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray microscopy (XRM) were applied to characterise the structure and aggregation processes of HS in solution. In SAXS and XRM the high brilliant synchrotron radiation was used as X-ray source.

Hierarchic patterning: architectures beyond 'giant molecular wheels'.

Based on symmetry breaking steps under one-pot conditions, simple molybdenum oxide-based building blocks initially assemble to 'giant molecular wheels' in a fast process followed by further slower assembly processes leading stepwise to more complex mesoscopic architectures including spherical ones and finally to those with a size larger than 500 nm.