Hydrides compounds for electrochemical applications

Hydrides have been used since a long time for solid-state hydrogen storage and electrochemical nickel-metal hydride batteries. Besides these applications, growing attention has been devoted to their development as anode materials, as well as solid electrolytes for Li-ion and other ion batteries. Herein, we review and summarize the recent advances of hydrides as negative electrodes for Ni-MH and A-ion batteries (A = Li, Na), and as electrolyte for all solid-state batteries (ASSB). Metallic hydrides such as intergrowth compounds are highlighted as the best compromise up to now for Ni-MH. Regarding anodes of Li-ion batteries, MgH2, especially its combination with TiH2, provides very promising results. Complex hydrides such as Li-borohydride and related closo-borates and monovalent carborate boron clusters appear to be very attractive as solid electrolytes for Li-based ASSB, whereas closo-hydroborate sodium salts and closo-carboborates are investigated for Na- and Mg-ASSB. Finally, further research directions are foreseen for hydrides in electrochemical applications.