Hydrogen Generation from Stabilized Alane

Abstract

A hydrogen generator and a method of producing hydrogen gas using stabilized aluminum hydroxide and water are disclosed. The hydrogen generator contains stabilized aluminum hydride, water, a base, and a reaction chamber within which at least a portion of the stabilized aluminum hydride reacts with at least a portion of the water to produce hydrogen gas. The water that reacts with the stabilized aluminum hydride is contained in a basic aqueous solution including at least a portion of the base. The base can be included with the water in the basic aqueous solution, stored in a reservoir separate from the stabilized aluminum hydroxide, or the base can be a solid contained in a mixture with the stabilized aluminum hydroxide and mix with water when added to the mixture to form the basic aqueous solution.

1 . A method of producing hydrogen gas, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a solid stabilized aluminum hydride, a base and water;   storing the solid stabilized aluminum hydride separate from the water until production of hydrogen gas is desired; and   when the production of hydrogen gas is desired, contacting at least a portion of the stabilized aluminum hydride with at least a portion of the water in a basic aqueous solution comprising at least a portion of the base to produce hydrogen gas.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilized aluminum hydride comprises alpha aluminum hydride. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilized aluminum hydride comprises particles of aluminum hydride with a crystallite size of greater than 1 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the crystallite size is 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilized aluminum hydride comprises particles with a passivation layer. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the passivation layer comprises at least one of an oxide of aluminum, a hydroxide of aluminum and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the basic aqueous solution is formed by mixing the base and the water and then contacting the solution with the stabilized aluminum hydride. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the basic aqueous solution is at least a 0.01 molar solution of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the basic aqueous solution is formed as the water is brought in contact with a mixture of a solid base and stabilized aluminum hydride. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the solid base comprises at least one of a hydride, a borohydride and an alanate that can initially react with the water to produce hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein no heat is added during production of the hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         12 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid stabilized aluminum hydride is stored separate from the base until the production of hydrogen gas is desired. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid stabilized aluminum hydride and the base are stored as a solid mixture before the production of hydrogen gas is desired. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas is produced in a reaction area containing all materials required for a reaction to produce hydrogen gas, and the materials consist essentially of the aluminum hydride, the base and the water. 
     
     
         24 . A method of producing hydrogen gas, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing a solid stabilized aluminum hydride and water in separate containers; and   contacting at least a portion of the solid stabilized aluminum hydride with at least a portion of the water in the presence of a base to undergo a reaction to produce hydrogen gas on demand.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the base is a solid stored with the solid stabilized aluminum hydride. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the base is stored in a solution with the water. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein materials required for the reaction consist essentially of the stabilized aluminum hydride, the base and the water.