Hydrogen storage for transportation applications requires high volumetric and gravimetric storage capacity. B-N compounds are well suited as storage materials due to their light weight and propensity for bearing multiple protic (N-H) and hydridic (B-H) hydrogens. This critical review briefly covers the various methods of hydrogen storage, and then concentrates on chemical hydrogen storage using B-N compounds. The simplest B-N compound, ammonia borane (H3NBH3), which has a potential 19.6 wt% hydrogen storage capacity, will be emphasised (127 references).

Ammonia-borane, H3NBH3, is an intriguing molecule for chemical hydrogen storage applications. With both protic N-H and hydridic B-H bonds, three H atoms per main group element, and a low molecular weight, H3NBH3 has the potential to meet the stringent gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen storage capacity targets needed for transportation applications. Furthermore, devising an energy-efficient chemical process to regenerate H3NBH3 from dehydrogenated BNHx material is an important step towards realization of a sustainable transportation fuel. In this perspective we discuss current progress in catalysis research to control the rate and extent of hydrogen release and preliminary efforts at regeneration of H3NBH3.

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