Technology Commercialization and Partnerships | BSA 05-15: Activated Alane for Efficient, Compact Hydrogen Fuel Storage

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Categories: advanced materials, energy

BSA 05-15: Activated Alane for Efficient, Compact Hydrogen Fuel Storage

BNL Reference Number: BSA 05-15

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 7,837,976 was issued on November 23, 2010

Summary

Schematic representation LiAlH₄ formation.

Activating aluminum hydride increases control over hydrogen release from solid-state storage, making it practical to use hydrogen as fuel for both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. Any vehicle or device that uses hydrogen as fuel will now have greater control over the temperature required and the rate of desorption when using this new method of storage and activation.

Description

Aluminum hydride is the best-known alane, first synthesized over 60 years ago. It is a very attractive potential medium for onboard automotive hydrogen storage, since it contains 10 wt.% hydrogen with a high volumetric density of hydrogen. Pure aluminum hydride requires heating to about 150°C before it desorbs significant hydrogen. Doping it with alkali metal hydrides reduces the desorption temperature, but the dopants limit the hydrogen storage capacity in proportion to the amount incorporated. By activating the aluminum hydride using this new process, both the temperature and the rate of hydrogen production can be tuned while hydrogen capacity is maintained by limiting the amount of stimulant required.

Benefits

Metal hydrides are much better at storing hydrogen than gases or liquids. Alane is the best of these metal hydrides, and this activation method allows for lower temperatures, less additive, and consequently much more efficient reactions.

Applications and Industries

Anything that can use hydrogen as a fuel, including onboard vehicular hydrogen storage, fuel cells, and internal combustion engines, will benefit from this process.