ACTIVATED ALUMINUM FUEL

摘要

Aluminum can be used as a fuel source when reacted with water if its native surrounding oxide coating is penetrated with a gallium-based eutectic. When discrete aluminum objects are treated in a heated bath of eutectic, the eutectic penetrates the oxide coating. After the aluminum objects are treated, the aluminum objects can be reacted in a reactor to produce hydrogen which can, for example, react with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity, for use in a variety of applications.

主权项

1. A method of fabricating a hydrogen fuel source, the method comprising:
exposing an aluminum object to a eutectic alloy including indium and gallium; through disruptions in an aluminum oxide layer on an outer surface of the aluminum object, diffusing the eutectic alloy from an outer surface of the aluminum object into a volume of the aluminum object; and recovering at least a portion of the eutectic alloy from the aluminum oxide layer on the outer surface of the aluminum object.