Scientists Develop New Hydrogen Process

Researchers in Indiana are developing technology that produces hydrogen by adding water to an alloy of aluminum and gallium.

The Purdue University scientists say the hydrogen could be used as a pollution-free energy source for applications ranging from golf carts to submarines.

When water is added to the alloy, the aluminum splits water by attracting oxygen, liberating hydrogen in the process. The Purdue researchers are developing a method to create particles of the alloy that could be placed in a tank to react with water and produce hydrogen on demand, the university said Monday in a release.

They report gallium is a critical component because it hinders the formation of an aluminum oxide skin normally created on aluminum’s surface after bonding with oxygen. Reducing the skin’s protective properties allows the reaction to continue until all of the aluminum is used to generate hydrogen, said Jerry Woodall, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who invented the process.

The findings will be presented on Sept. 7 during the 2nd Energy Nanotechnology International Conference in Santa Clara, Calif.