Chemical reactions in cracks of aluminum crystals: Generation of hydrogen from water

Pure hydrogen is generated from water molecules which are dissociated by specific aluminum particles called activated Al powder. Reaction mechanism of Al atoms with H2O molecules is investigated in micro-cracks of Al crystals. It becomes obvious that hydrogen atoms exist in Al crystal mainly in states of AlH3 hydrides. It is concluded that virgin walls of micro-cracks right after the creation provide virtually Al radical atoms of (Al−) or (Al=) with one or two free bonds, which react with H2O molecules via surface diffusion resulting in producing AlH3 and eventually in producing H2. The production of H2 seems to be a result of micro-tribochemical reactions in cracks, which are produced by mechanical crushing of Al crystals in water; tips of cracks as stress-focused points play a major role to create AlH3. Peculiar environments of nano-spaces in micro-cracks surrounded by reactive atoms enable us to realize unusual chemical reactions at low temperatures as exemplified in the present paper.