[Translation] The development process of China’s first magnesium hydride production line with a capacity of over 100 tons and independent intellectual property rights

Achieving a one-pot synthesis of magnesium hydride – let’s go back to 2002. In the laboratory fume hood, Chen Ping was staring at the powder of silver-white and dark gray colors inside the reaction vessel. This was the beginning of her story with solid-state hydrogen storage materials. At that time, the research roadmap was very clear: she wanted to apply hydrogen storage materials in automotive technology, hoping that one day they could compete on an equal footing with gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. Thus, she began to study the reactions of light metals such as lithium and magnesium with nitrogen and hydrogen, thereby creating a new class of metal-nitrogen-hydrogen hydrogen storage materials. Among them, magnesium hydride is an important component of metal nitrohydrogen LiMgNH hydrogen storage materials. Due to the potential for LiMgNH in automotive applications, it has quickly become an important category of solid hydrogen storage materials, attracting the attention of the U.S. Department of Energy and several automakers. For the dream of vehicle applications, Chen Ping leads her team in conducting ongoing in-depth research and optimization of this material. By 2018, as interest in the domestic hydrogen industry grew, solid-state hydrogen storage materials attracted significant attention; an increasing number of companies came to seek information on them, and the applications and demands for such materials continued to expand. Chen Ping’s team also brought in Dr. Cao Hujun from Germany, who is interested in conducting research on solid-state hydrogen storage applications. “At this point, we wondered whether it would be possible to adjust the outlet application and raw material composition of LiMgNH for hydrogen storage, focusing on chemical industry applications; by eliminating metallic lithium and using only another component – magnesium hydride This makes the reaction system even simpler, and China is rich in magnesium resources. ”Chen Ping recalled. Unexpectedly, this decision, which seemed to involve a \"subtraction,\" actually opened up a new beginning for the team’s research on magnesium-based solid hydrogen storage materials. Magnesium hydride is a solid compound formed by the bonding of metallic magnesium with hydrogen, akin to freezing a gas into \"ice.\" Its high hydrogen storage capacity, easily controllable reaction properties, and unique chemical characteristics make it an excellent material for solid-state hydrogen storage based on magnesium, as well as a negative electrode material for lithium batteries and an important reducing agent. It holds great potential for application in various fields such as energy storage, aerospace, battery manufacturing, metal production, agriculture, and the food industry. “Typically, when storing hydrogen using magnesium hydride, in addition to magnesium hydride, some catalysts are also required to enable the reaction to occur under milder conditions. Our team is dedicated to research in the field of metal hydride energy chemistry, and has accumulated extensive experience in hydride catalysis. We have developed unique catalysts with excellent performance for storing hydrogen using magnesium hydrides. ”Chen Ping explained. The traditional preparation method is similar to cooking; it usually involves two steps: first, magnesium is processed into magnesium hydride under high temperature and pressure, and then a catalyst is added as a \"seasoning\". This method of cooking the meat first and then adding salt is not only time-consuming and laborious, but it may also result in uneven mixing of the ingredients due to the step-by-step process. “Magnesium is soft in texture and prone to oxidation; reactions between solid magnesium particles are difficult to occur. In particular, an oxide layer easily forms on the surface of magnesium, which hinders its reaction with hydrogen, resulting in low reaction efficiency and affecting its hydrogen storage capacity. ”Chen Ping said, “We’re thinking about whether it’s possible to expose magnesium completely on the surface and, at the same time, add a proprietary catalyst so that magnesium and hydrogen can react immediately, resulting in a ‘one-pot’ outcome, just like with iron pots used for stewing in the Northeast.” ” With this idea in mind, they immediately set to work on creating the \"reactor\" – they designed a high-speed ball mill that, in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst, uses high-speed mechanical energy to break away the oxide layer on the magnesium surface, exposing the fresh magnesium surface. This exposed surface then quickly forms a \"molecular barrier\" with hydrogen and the catalyst, locking in the active surface before oxygen can come into contact with it. In this way, a high-quality magnesium hydride material suitable for hydrogen storage was produced using this \"one-reactor method\". “It’s just like when making sesame balls: if you first knead the dough and then sprinkle sesame seeds on it, the seeds will only stick to the surface; but by mixing the sesame seeds into the dough while kneading it, the aroma can be tasted with every bite. ”Cao Hujun used an analogy to explain it.

From basic research to application development: After achieving success in the laboratory, the team came up with a bold idea. They believed that the \"one-pot\" technique had the potential for scale-up, enabling the mass production of magnesium hydride products needed by society. This approach could also lay the foundation for further development of LiMgNH applications, while supporting **’s energy development strategies; therefore, they hoped to pursue its industrial application. However, what should have been straightforward posed some difficulties for Chen Ping and Cao Hujun. “We are a basic research team that has never been involved in applying our findings to practical uses. However, we are well aware that solid hydrogen storage products have a wide range of applications, and this research area certainly falls within the scope of basic applications. We also hope to see our technology put to use in everyday life. ”Cao Hujun said. However, research teams tend to be more \"idealistic\" in the laboratory, demanding that all performance parameters be optimal; they have a thorough understanding of every experimental procedure related to magnesium hydride, but are almost unfamiliar with industrial factors such as \"production costs\" and \"equipment selection\". Industrial production requires products that can generate economic benefits and are of satisfactory quality, rather than flawlessly perfect \"artworks\". A turning point came in 2021. During an event organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Cao Hujun visited the Yulin Innovation Institute and learned that this region is rich in renewable resources and is also a major producer of magnesium. In addition, the Yulin Innovation Institute stated that it can not only provide sufficient venue support but also offer certain financial assistance, which coincides with Cao Hujun’s needs. During the application process for the project, he worked closely with Yulin Innovation Institute to find potential partner companies, and met Lu Zhihui, the president of Dalian Fude Jinyu New Energy Co., Ltd. Lv Zhihui has worked at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics*, where he has spent many years focusing on the transformation of scientific research results; he has been involved in large-scale industrial projects such as the production of olefins from methanol. Upon hearing that Chen Ping and Cao Hujun’s team were working on hydrogen storage materials, he showed great interest and even went to the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics to have face-to-face discussions. After learning that magnesium hydride had already passed laboratory tests, he immediately agreed to cooperate. Faced with an industrialized field they had never ventured into, the team members were inevitably anxious. Lü Zhihui put forward many suggestions regarding industrialization and said, “Go ahead and do it; don’t worry about the difficulties involved, we’re here to help!” ”A few short sentences strengthened the confidence of the hesitant team. Subsequently, Chen Ping’s team licensed the technology to Dalian Fude Jinyu New Energy Co., Ltd. and signed a cooperation agreement with Yulin Innovation Institute; the three parties worked together toward the goal of industrializing the production of magnesium hydride. Unwavering belief is the key to success

Perseverance is the key to success. As cooperation deepens, new problems arise. High-pressure, high-speed rotating equipment that performed excellently in the laboratory stage proved to be inadequate during the pilot production phase in the factory; the mechanical force available was not sufficient to ‘stir’ the raw materials that had been amplified ten or a hundred times. Increasing the torque further could lead to high-pressure leaks at the reactor connections, while rising temperatures would cause the magnesium powder to agglomerate. At this time, Dr. Xiong Zhitao, a seasoned expert in hydrogen storage, joined the team, injecting new vitality into the research. Ultimately, drawing inspiration from their extensive experience in the chemical industry, the team utilized gas flow to propel the transfer of powder and, by optimizing the stirring frequency, succeeded in adapting the laboratory technology to large-scale equipment, thus achieving the crucial transition from laboratory research to industrial production. Not long after, a modern magnesium hydride synthesis production line was created. In Yulin, where temperatures drop to minus 15°C in winter, Cao Hujun stood atop a five-story industrial structure, feeling the biting cold wind howling around him, yet an inner warmth surged within him. The transition from the laboratory to the factory represents, for him and Chen Ping, more than just an empty slogan – it is a testament to the long journey undertaken by the team as a whole. In their minds, persistent belief is the key factor that drives the successful transformation of research achievements. “If one does not believe in the success of industrialization, then I can come up with countless reasons to doubt the market potential of these technologies—safety issues, scale-up problems… But our catalysts and the technology for producing magnesium hydride are both original innovations; we were confident that they would be able to find their way into factories, and the final results confirmed our judgment. ” Through in-depth interactions with businesses, Cao Hujun gradually learned to listen to and understand the needs of others. He admitted, \"As a team focused on fundamental research, our ‘native language’ is the language of chemistry, while engineers are proficient in the languages of mechanics and design.\" For example, I provide the boundary conditions for chemical reactions, while they provide the parameter settings for the equipment and processes; there is a difference between these. Therefore, we must not only become experts in our own fields but also learn to act as ‘interpreters’ for one another, finding a balance in communication in order to achieve success. ” “The teamwork, full commitment, mutual respect, support, and appreciation among researchers, designers, constructors, managers, and entrepreneurs were also key to the success of this pilot project. ”Cao Hujun added. At present, the pilot project for magnesium hydride, a solid hydrogen storage material with a production capacity of 150 tons per year, has been successfully commissioned. The entire pilot production line operates autonomously without human intervention, enabling efficient, continuous, and digital production of magnesium hydride. The magnesium hydride material produced by this production line has a purity of 90% to 99%, and it can undergo over a thousand cycles of use. Its density is four times that of traditional high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage methods, offering a hydrogen storage and transportation solution that features high safety, high efficiency, and low costs. Looking to the future, the team is confident that they will continue to develop hydrogen storage materials and catalysts with improved performance. They will also work on building magnesium hydride production facilities with greater capacity, aiming to achieve full automation in production and thus provide a stronger foundation for the widespread use of hydrogen storage materials.

【Frontiers of HaiChuan Chemical Technology】CAS Qinghai Salt Lake Institute’s “Innovation Accelerator” Turns “Magnesium Problems” in Qinghai Salt Lakes into “Magnesium Assets” https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5682122-1-1.html (Source: HaiChuan Chemical Forum)