Using Al-Based Activated Powders for On-Demand Hydrogen Production: Possibilities and Perspectives of the “White” Hydrogen

On-demand hydrogen production through the reaction of water with mechanically activated Al powders is a promising technique to face the safety concerns related to the storage of this gas. In this work, a new and fast mechanical activation technique has been used to produce samples capable to generate up to 100 g of “white” hydrogen per kg of material with a yield above the 95%. Fuel cell systems fed with white hydrogen have been analyzed to determine the carbon footprint and the performance in terms of specific energy and energy density. With respect to other established technologies, the proposed system featured a superior energy density. Greenhouse gas emissions are currently relatively high with a foreseeable progressive reduction till competitive levels by 2050.