Hiroshima University Successfully Generates Hydrogen from Water at Lower Temperature than Conventionally

Hiroshima University announced on November 27, 2012, that it has succeeded in generating hydrogen from water at a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius or lower. Once applied in actual hydrogen generation facilities, this technology is expected to increase the use of renewable energy sources by utilizing solar heat more effectively, as well as untapped heat sources including waste heat from industrial plants.

In currently available technology, hydrogen is obtained by thermochemical decomposition at an operating temperature of 800℃ or higher, which needs high-grade heat sources provided by solar furnaces or high-temperature nuclear furnaces. The reactors with these furnaces are, however, subject to stringent limitations on their location and regulated safety measures.

Noting that alkali metal (sodium) melts and liquefies at relatively low temperatures, the university research team controlled the chemical reaction of sodium, thereby lowering the reaction temperature, and successfully obtained hydrogen from water at 400 degrees Celsius, which is substantially lower than with conventional technology.

The university will work on improving and increasing the size of the reactor, and launch further studies toward the practical application of the technology. It also has to consider corrosion control in the reactor, a critical issue when alkali metal is utilized at high temperatures.