Zwitterionic amino acids as precursors for nonmetal cation pentaborate salts

Nonmetal cation (NMC) pentaborate structures were synthesized using the amino acid molecules as cations precursors. Chemical composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass analysis, boron nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) methods were used for structural characterization. The hydrogen storage efficiency of molecules was also determined experimentally. The recorded infrared spectra support the structural similarities of the molecules. Stretchings of pentaborate rings and characteristic peaks of amino acids were detected in infrared spectra. When the thermal analysis curves were recorded, it was found that the structures showed similar decomposition steps. Due to the result of thermal decay, glassy boron oxide (B₂O₃) formation was observed as the final decomposition products of all molecules. Peaks associated with boric acid, triborate, and pentaborate were observed in the ¹¹B spectra of these salts. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy supports the presence of BO₃ and BO₄⁻ groups regarding the presence of pentaborate rings. It also indicates the high crystallinity of the structures. The molecular cavities detected by brunauer–emmett–teller analysis were found to be 3.586, 1.922, 1.673, and 1.923 g/cm³. Low-molecular cavities can be attributed to the high hydrogen-bonding capacity of the structures. The hydrogen capture efficiency of the pentaborate salts was found to be in the range of 0.039-0.