An overview of hydrogen production from Al-based materials

A profound overview of the recent development for on-time, on-demand hydrogen production from light metal-based hydrolysis is presented. Hydrogen energy is one of the clean and renewable energy sources which has been recognized as an alternative to fossil fuels. In addition, aluminum is the most suitable light activity metal for hydrolysis materials attributed to its safety, environmental friendliness, high-energy density, inexpensive, and low density with high strength ratio. In general, dense oxide films formed act as a barrier on aluminum surfaces. Accordingly, effective removal of the oxide film is a key measure in solving the Al-water reaction. In this review, recent advances in addressing the main drawbacks including high-purity aluminum with acid-alkali solutions, nano-powders of aluminum or composite with acid-base solutions, ball-milled nano-powders, alloying blocks, and gas atomization powders are summarized. The characteristics of these three technologies and the current research progress are summarized in depth. Moreover, it is essential to promote low-cost aluminum-based materials based on effective hydrogen production efficiency and explore ways for practical large-scale applications.