Sodium Silicide As A Hydrogen Source For Portable Energy Devices: A Review

Abstract

Hydrogen gas is environmental friendly and harmless energy carrier. It will be very crucial and future sustainable energy system due to rapid depletion of fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emission. Application of hydrogen gas is being promoted because the by-product is pure water which is pollution free. One of the major impediments for the transition to a hydrogen based energy system is the lack of satisfactory hydrogen storage alternatives. In recent years, various hydrogen storage materials have been extensively studied. But, still there are challenges to use them in engineering products due to energy consumption in storing and release of hydrogen. Sodium Silicide (NaSi) is a chemical compound that which reacts with tap water at atmospheric conditions and produces hydrogen gas. In this paper possibility of use of NaSi as a source of release of hydrogen gas usage has been reviewed. Storage of hydrogen is not required. Different energy storage materials and their challenges also have been discussed very briefly which can be used in fuel cells. Main focus of this paper is to highlight the application of NaSi as a portable source of energy which can be used in the fuel cells for various power applications.