Hydrolytic Hydrogen Production from Severely Plastic Deformed Aluminum-Based Materials: An Overview

The development of hydrogen energy will help to reduce the use of nonrenewable energy sources and achieve global carbon neutrality. The aluminum-water reaction is an important method of producing hydrogen because aluminum has abundant reserves, a high yield, and no pollution. However, the dense passive oxide film on the surface of aluminum, on the other hand, often obstructs this reaction, which is the primary issue limiting the development of aluminum-based hydrolytic materials. Mechanochemical activation by processing severely plastic deformed aluminum-based materials is one effective approach and has been developed in recent years. This article reviews recent progress of hydrogen production from hydrolysis of severely plastic deformed aluminum-based materials. The kinetic model of aluminum-water reaction, aging protection of the materials, catalytic mechanism and stable rate control for the hydrolysis of aluminum-based materials are reviewed. Furthermore, some existing problems as well as some suggestions for future research on hydrogen production from aluminum-based materials are also discussed.