Purdue University engineers have developed a new aluminum-rich alloy that produces hydrogen by splitting water and is economically competitive with conventional fuels for transportation and power generation.

“We now have an economically viable process for producing hydrogen on-demand for vehicles, electrical generating stations and other applications,” said Jerry Woodall, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue who invented the process.

When immersed in water, the alloy splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, which immediately reacts with the aluminum to produce aluminum oxide, also called alumina, which can be recycled back into aluminum. (Credit: Image courtesy of Purdue University)

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