Optimization of aluminum hydroxide catalyst for efficient hydrogen generation from aluminum-water reaction

The aluminum-water reaction offers a promising method for clean hydrogen production, but it requires an effective catalyst. This study investigates the use of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) as a catalyst for the aluminum-water reaction to generate hydrogen gas. Various aluminum hydroxide catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for their catalytic performance. The effects of catalyst source, synthesis conditions, quantity, and pH value of the reacting solution were systematically studied. The results demonstrate that self-synthesized, nano-sized Al(OH)₃ catalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity compared to commercial sources. Additionally, optimizing the pH value was found to significantly impact the hydrogen generation rate. Proper synthesized Al(OH)₃ is capable of completing hydrogen generation within 160 s at pH 11.6, while slightly higher pH value accelerates this reaction down to 60 s. Comparative studies with uncatalyzed reactions at higher pH levels (up to 14) showed significantly slower and incomplete hydrogen production. This research provides insights into developing efficient and sustainable catalytic systems for aluminum-water based hydrogen production.