In this work, the hydrogen release capability of the LiAlH4-MgH2 composite system is analyzed. Analysis of the molar ratios of LiAlH4 to MgH2 shows that the LiAlH4 MgH2 sample with the molar ratio of 1:0.5 presents the largest amount of hydrogen. Further study finds that doping with the catalysts LaCl3, La2O3 and CeO2 markedly shortens the hydrogen release time of the LiAlH4-MgH2 sample, except when doping with 1 mol% CeO2. In addition, doping is found to significantly improve the amount and the rate of hydrogen release of the LiAlH4-MgH2 sample. The amount of hydrogen release by the sample doped with 3 mol% La2O3 reaches about 6.5 wt%, which is about 1.1 wff, higher than that of the undoped sample. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.