Hydrogen Generation of Al-La-Bi Alloy in Aqueous Inorganic Salt Solutions

Abstract

A method for obtaining hydrogen from Al-La-Bi alloy in different solutions was investigated for the production of inexpensive, pure, and safe hydrogen for micro-fuel cells. The hydrogen generation amount and rate could be regulated by changing composition design or salt solutions. Combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hydrogen generation experiments, the hydrolysis byproduct La(OH)3 and inorganic salt solution stimulated the hydrolysis reaction of Al-La-Bi alloy and water, which was mostly based on micro galvanic cell between Al and Bi in the previous work. Increasing La content led to decrease particle size in the milling process which led to large special surface area and contact area of aluminum and water. Using inorganic salt solution such as Na2SnO3 solution might produce metal Sn which covered on Al surface and functioned as a cathode of a micro galvanic cell. The Al-13 wt%La-10 wt%Bi alloy yielded 1113 ml/g hydrogen with 100 % efficiency with 60 min at 343 K.