Accelerated thermal decomposition of AlH3 for hydrogen-fueled vehicles

The potential for using aluminum hydride, AlH3, for vehicular hydrogen storage is explored. It is shown that particle-size control and doping of AlH3 with small levels of alkali-metal hydrides ( e. g. LiH) results in accelerated desorption rates. For AlH3 - 20 mol% LiH, 100degreesC desorption kinetics are nearly high enough to supply vehicles. It is highly likely that 2010 gravimetric and volumetric vehicular system targets ( 6 wt% H-2 and 0.045 kg/L) can be met with onboard AlH3. However, a new, low-cost method of off-board regeneration of spent Al back to AlH3 is needed.