Sodium tetrahydroborate as energy/hydrogen carrier, its history

Sodium tetrahydroborate NaBH4 is considered as being a promising energy/hydrogen carrier. NaBH4 is not a new compound. It has been discovered in 1940s by Prof. H.C. Brown, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1979. NaBH4 has thus a history and this history distinguishes the NaBH4 utilisation as hydrogen carrier from that as energy carrier. In fact, the history of NaBH4 (for both utilisations) can be divided into three periods, each period being characterised by specific societal challenges. Whereas during the first period the challenges were military and political, the challenges in the third period (i.e. at present) are energetic, environmental, civilian, social and political. The second period was rather calm for NaBH4 even if it was intensively used as a reducing agent in organic chemistry. To cite this article: Umit B. Demirci, P Miele, C R. Chimie 12 (2009). (C) 2008 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.