Hydrazine borane (N(2)H(4)BH(3)) is the novel boron- and nitrogen-based material appearing to be a promising candidate in chemical hydrogen storage. It stores 15.4 wt% of hydrogen in hydridic and protic forms, and the challenge is to release H(2) with maximum efficiency, if possible all hydrogen stored in the material. An important step to realize this ambitious goal is to synthesize HB with high yields and high purity, and to characterize it fully. In this work, we report a 2-step synthesis (salt metathesis and solvent extraction-drying) through which N(2)H(4)BH(3) is successfully obtained in 3 days, with a yield of about 80% and a purity of 99.6%. N(2)H(4)BH(3) was characterized by NMR, IR, XRD, TGA and DSC, its stability in dioxane and water was determined, and its thermolysis by-products were characterized. We thus present a complete data sheet that should be very useful for future studies. Furthermore, we propose a discussion on the potential of HB (with H(2) released by either thermolysis or hydrolysis) in chemical hydrogen storage.

Today there is a consensus regarding the potential of NaBH4 as a good candidate for hydrogen storage and release via hydrolysis reaction, especially for mobile, portable and niche applications. However as gone through in the present paper two main issues, which are the most investigated throughout the open literature, still avoid NaBH4 to be competitive. The first one is water handling. The second one is the catalytic material used to accelerate the hydrolysis reaction. Both issues are objects of great attentions as it can be noticed throughout the open literature. This review presents and discusses the various strategies which were considered until now by many studies to manage water and to improve catalysts performances (reactivity and durability). Published studies show real improvements and much more efforts might lead to significant overhangs. Nevertheless, the results show that we are still far from envisaging short‐term commercialisation.