Enhanced hydrogen generation from Al-water reaction mediated by metal salts

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.220
• Publication Date: 2020-11-28T13:24:27Z
• Authors: Jinrui Guo; Zhi Su; Jing Tian; Jinhua Deng; Tao Fu; Yong Liu
• Keywords: Reaction rate

Abstract Hydrogen generation by the reaction of micrometer-aluminum powder with water at room temperature is hard to proceed due to the inhibition of alumina layer. In this study, a novel strategy of metal salts mediated Al-water reaction was proposed for more efficient and practical hydrogen generation. The effects of metal salt composition and dosage, and water injection rate and volume on hydrogen generation were investigated. The hydrogen yield of 230.0 mL was achieved in the Al/Ni/Cu/H2O system within 600 s under the following conditions: 0.24 g aluminum with the molar ratio of Al, Ni and Cu at 10:1:1 and 2 mL water at the injection rate of 2 mL/min, which was equivalent to 70.4% of the theoretical hydrogen yield. Based on the morphology, element composition, crystal structure and electrochemical test results of the obtained composites after reaction, the mechanism of hydrogen production by metal salts mediated Al-water reaction was proposed.