Recent progress on hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of light metals and hydrides

Abstract

Currently, economic hydrogen production is the key issue preventing the application of the hydrogen as the energy carrier for global low-carbon and ever-increasing energy challenges. Hydrogen generation by spontaneous hydrolysis reaction of light metal-based materials including Mg, Al and NaBH 4 , is a promising method integrating safe storage and effective supply of hydrogen. However, these hydrolytic materials are still plagued by sluggish hydrogen kinetics and low H 2 yield, owing to the formation of the surface passivation layers. While numerous strategies such as refining material’s structure, compositing with other materials, alloying and modifying aqueous solutions, have been proposed to enhance hydrogen generation performance, the high cost caused by irreversibility hinders the large-scale application. Therefore, low cost regeneration of materials from hydrolytic byproduct is essential for hydrogen generation via hydrolysis. Herein, this review presents the recent research progress on above topics as well as their application in fuel cells. The future challenges and opportunities in this area are also described. • A overview in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of light metal-based materials is introduced systematically. • The effective regeneration technologies of light metal-based materials from their hydrolytic byproducts are delivered in detail. • The application of hydrolytic hydrogen production systems in fuel cells is discussed briefly. • The challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen generation from light metal-based materials are described.