Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hydrogen generator that comprises:
- an anode material;
a cathode material; and
an electrolyte;
wherein the hydrogen generator does not include a catalyst;
wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and
wherein the metal hydride is stabilized so that hydrogen gas is not generated unless the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected; and
wherein the metal hydride includes one or more of NaBH4 (sodium borohydride), LiBH4 (lithium borohydride), KBH4 (potassium borohydride), NH4BH4 (ammonium borohydride), (CH3)4NH4BH4 (tetramethyl ammonium borohydride), NaAlH4, LiAlH4, KAlH4, NaGaH4, LiGaH4, KGaH4, or quaternary borohydrides.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention is a hydrogen generator that includes: (a) an anode material; (b) a cathode material; and (c) an electrolyte; wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and wherein hydrogen gas is generated whenever the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected.
53 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A hydrogen generator that comprises:
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an anode material; a cathode material; and an electrolyte; wherein the hydrogen generator does not include a catalyst; wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and wherein the metal hydride is stabilized so that hydrogen gas is not generated unless the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected; and wherein the metal hydride includes one or more of NaBH4 (sodium borohydride), LiBH4 (lithium borohydride), KBH4 (potassium borohydride), NH4BH4 (ammonium borohydride), (CH3)4NH4BH4 (tetramethyl ammonium borohydride), NaAlH4, LiAlH4, KAlH4, NaGaH4, LiGaH4, KGaH4, or quaternary borohydrides. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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7. A hydrogen generator that comprises:
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an anode material; a cathode material; a switchable electrical connection between the anode material and the cathode material; a conduit through which hydrogen gas exits the hydrogen generator; and an electrolyte that contacts the anode material and the cathode material; wherein the hydrogen generator does not include a catalyst; wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; wherein the metal hydride is a complex metal hydride having a general chemical formula MBH4; wherein M is an alkali metal selected from Group 1 of the periodic table;
B is an element selected from Group 13 of the periodic table; and
H is hydrogen;wherein the metal hydride is stabilized so that hydrogen gas is not generated unless the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected; and wherein a potential is generated between the anode material and the cathode material when they are connected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification