Chemical reactions in cracks of aluminum crystals: Generation of hydrogen from water

Pure hydrogen is generated from water molecules which are dissociated by specific aluminum particles called activated Al powder. Reaction mechanism of Al atoms with H₂O molecules is investigated in micro-cracks of Al crystals. It becomes obvious that hydrogen atoms exist in Al crystal mainly in states of AlH₃ hydrides. It is concluded that virgin walls of micro-cracks right after the creation provide virtually Al radical atoms of (Al−) or (Al=) with one or two free bonds, which react with H₂O molecules via surface diffusion resulting in producing AlH₃ and eventually in producing H₂. The production of H₂ seems to be a result of micro-tribochemical reactions in cracks, which are produced by mechanical crushing of Al crystals in water; tips of cracks as stress-focused points play a major role to create AlH_3. Peculiar environments of nano-spaces in micro-cracks surrounded by reactive atoms enable us to realize unusual chemical reactions at low temperatures as exemplified in the present paper.