Study of hydrogen production and storage based on aluminum–water reaction

•Hydrogen has an outstanding reaction energy (with air).•Aluminum–water reaction enables safe and compact in-situ hydrogen production.•A novel activation process enables spontaneous reaction between aluminum and water.•High hydrogen production rates and yields are demonstrated.•Application in fuel cells represents very high specific electric energy storage.

The rate and yield of hydrogen production from the reaction between activated aluminum and water has been investigated. The effect of different parameters such as water–aluminum ratio, water temperature and aluminum particle size and shape was studied experimentally. The aluminum activation method developed in-house involves 1%–2.5% of lithium-based activator which is diffused into the aluminum particles, enabling sustained reaction with tap water or sea water at room temperature. Hydrogen production rates in the range of 200–600 ml/min/g Al, at a yield of about 90%, depending on operating parameters, were demonstrated. The work further studied the application in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells in order to generate green electric energy, demonstrating theoretical specific electric energy storage that can exceed batteries by 10–20 folds.