abstract
Unlike traditional batteries, small fuel cells have a high energy density and can work uninterruptedly, being better energy suppliers for portable devices. Such devices require an economically viable fuel. Recent findings showed that metal Al particle surfaces could be modified by fine ceramic oxide grains through a ceramic processing procedure, and the modified Al powder could continuously react with pure water and generate hydrogen under ambient conditions. The reaction of Al with water produces as much as 3.7-4.8 wt% hydrogen, and the reaction byproducts are chemically neutral. Metal Al is cheap and hydrogen generation from the reaction between surface-modified Al particles and water is a simple process. These features make this new process a cost-efficient way of generating hydrogen for small fuel cells in comparison with other portable hydrogen-generation materials and technologies. In this paper, the state of the art of portable hydrogen-generation materials is surveyed, and the ceramic oxide-modified Al-hydrogen technology and its potential are highlighted.
keywords
FUEL-CELL SYSTEMS; SODIUM-BOROHYDRIDE SOLUTION; POINT-DEFECT MODEL; HYDROLYSIS REACTION; METHANOL DECOMPOSITION; REINFORCING MECHANISMS; STORAGE MATERIALS; CHEMICAL HYDRIDE; ALUMINUM-ALLOYS; LOW-TEMPERATURE
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Deng, ZY; Ferreira, JMF; Sakka, Y
our authors
José Maria da Fonte Ferreira
Retired Professoracknowledgements
Zhen-Yan Deng would like to thank the Pujiang Talent Project (07pj14040), National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC, No. 10774097), and Innovation Fund of Shanghai University for their financial support. The support of CICECO is also acknowledged.