The new metal complex templated polyoxoborate(s) (POB(s)) structures. Synthesis, structural characterization, and hydrogen storage capacities

The polyoxoborate(s) (POB(s)) structures, including a neutral ligand-metal complex compound as a template, were synthesized and the structural characterizations were performed via single crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, 11B-NMR, solid state UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM and elemental analysis methods. Moreover, the stabilization features were determined via TGA/DTA method. In addition, nitrogen and hydrogen adsorption measurements provided the realization to determine the pore size distribution, BET surface area, and hydrogen storage capacities. The molecular formulas of compounds were estimated as [Cu(C12H8N2)2(C2H3O2)][B5O6(OH)4]·2H3BO3·H2O (I) and [Ni(C12H8N2)2(H2O)2]·(B7O9(OH)5)·5H2O (II) and the existence of two different POB(s) structures as pentaborate (B5O6(OH)4) and heptaborate (B7O9(OH)5) within the compounds were observed. At last, it was found that the both structures have micro and mesoporosity with 0.407 and 1.480 m2/g BET surface areas, for the compound I and II, respectively. Moreover, within the same conditions, compound II could uptake 0.19 wt% hydrogen at 77 K and at the relative pressure of 1 while compound II uptakes 0.035 wt% hydrogen.