Effect of doped Ni-Bi-B alloy on hydrogen generation performance of Al-InCl3

Abstract

Abstract In this work, Ni-Bi-B alloy has been synthesized via chemical synthesis method. A new kind of Al-InCl3-(Ni-Bi-B) composite has been prepared by high energy mechanical ball grinding Al powder with additives. Results show that the doped Ni-Bi-B alloy can significantly improve the hydrogen generation performance of Al-InCl3 and the catalytic activity is enhanced with the increasing content of Bi in Ni-Bi-B alloy. Under optimal conditions, the hydrogen generation yield and conversion yield of Al-InCl3-(Ni-Bi-B) reached 1196.8 mL g−1 and 100.0% at room temperature, respectively. Mechanism study shows five kinds of active sites, such as the fresh surface/defect of Al particle, Al-AlCl3, Al-In, Al-Bi/B and Al-Ni/B produced during the ball milling process. Their synergistic effect enhances the hydrogen generation performance of Al-InCl3-(Ni-Bi-B) remarkably. In general, the proposed Al-InCl3-(Ni-Bi-B) composite is possible to serve as hydrogen generation material for fuel cells.