Review on Hydrogen Production from Catalytic Ammonia Borane Methanolysis: Advances and Perspectives

Hydrogen is globally recognized clean energy carrier, and hydrogen energy plays the important role in energy choice for developing the new low-carbon society. Ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) has been considered as an ideal hydrogen storage material for portable hydrogen production, because of its characteristics of high hydrogen content (19.6 wt %), nontoxicity, stability under ambient conditions, and excellent hydriding and dehydriding properties. The technology of ammonia borane methanolysis seems to be the most safe, effective, and convenient technology route for portable hydrogen production applications, because of its mild reaction conditions and low temperature suitability. In this Review, the properties and synthesis method of AB are introduced briefly, and the method and mechanism of AB pyrolysis and hydrolysis for hydrogen production are described briefly, the mechanism of hydrogen production by AB methanolysis is derived subsequently. The research status development progress of high efficiency catalyst in AB methanolysis then are significantly reviewed. In the end, the proposals are noted that the biggest challenge in the practical application of AB is its regeneration, which means how to make the byproducts of AB methanolysis directly hydrogenated to regenerate AB efficiently and economically. This Review provides guidance and reference for the research and industrial application of hydrogen production technology of AB, especially the technology of methanolysis for hydrogen production.