METHOD FOR PRODUCING GASEOUS HYDROGEN BY CHEMICAL REACTION OF METALS OR METAL HYDRIDES SUBJECTED TO INTENSE MECHANICAL DEFORMATIONS

摘要

An improved method is disclosed for producing gaseous hydrogen by subjecting a metal or a metal hydride to a chemical reaction. In this method, the metal or metal hydride subjected to the chemical reaction is nanocrystalline. Indeed, it has been found that when, instead of using conventional metal hydrides (Mg-based or others), use is made of a metal or metal hydride that is or has been subjected to intensive mechanical deformations, such as a metastable nanocrystalline metal hydride, then the chemical reaction, especially hydrolysis, will take place much more readily, at a much higher rate and, most of the time, up to completion.