Accelerated thermal decomposition of AlH3 for hydrogen-fueled vehicles

Abstract

The potential for using aluminum hydride, AlH3, for vehicular hydrogen storage is explored. It is shown that particle-size control and doping of AlH3 with small levels of alkali-metal hydrides (e.g. LiH) results in accelerated desorption rates. For AlH3–20 mol % LiH, 100 °C desorption kinetics are nearly high enough to supply vehicles. It is highly likely that 2010 gravimetric and volumetric vehicular system targets (6 wt % H2 and 0.045 kg/L) can be met with onboard AlH3. However, a new, low-cost method of off-board regeneration of spent Al back to AlH3 is needed.