Aluminum rich alloys for energy storage and conversion
Abstract
The recent environmental problem and depletion of natural power resources have intensified the search for clean and renewable energy which has become one of the major issues of the Twenty-first century. Furthermore, global demand for freshwater has been increasing, raising concerns for water insufficiency. The goal of this research is to seek and introduce a viable technology that could potentially solve both energy and water crises. It has been investigated that Al-Ga-In-Sn quaternary system alloys can split water and produce hydrogen and heat. This paper focuses on the aluminum-rich Al-Ga-In-Sn quaternary system alloys, exploring the mystery behind the mechanism. As the paper will show, this technology can be applied to both salt water and sea water, and is thus a potential solution for marine applications and desalination. However, it has been shown that the alloy reacts differently depending on the fabrication method and environmental conditions. Various experiments were conducted to understand this phenomenon. This paper discusses several different reactions caused by various cooling rates and compositions, which effectively changes the crystal structure of the alloy and its liquid phase. Characteristics of the liquid phase define the alloy and determine its applications.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Woodall, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Electrical engineering|Energy|Materials science
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