Marius Urbonavičius doctoral dissertation defense

Author, Institution: Marius Urbonavičius, Lithuanian Energy Institute

Dissertation title: Hydrogen synthesis using reaction between plasma activated aliuminium and water

Science area, field of science: Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering – 06T

Defense of the dissertation: 2018-03-13, 12:00 h, Lithuanian Energy Institute (Meeting Hall – AK-202 a.), Breslaujos st. 3, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Darius Milčius (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering – 06T)

Dissertation Defense Board of Energetics and Power Engineering Science Field:

• Chairperson – Prof. Dr. Habil. Eugenijus Ušpuras (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering – 06T);
• Prof. Dr. Habil. Artūrs Medvids (Riga Technical University, Physical Sciences, Physics – 02P);
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Mickevičius (Vytautas Magnus University, Physical Sciences, Physics – 02P);
• Prof. Dr. Habil. Gintautas Miliauskas (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering – 06T);
• Dr. Raimondas Pabarčius (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Sciences, Energetics and Power Engineering – 06T).

The doctoral dissertation is available on the internet (http://ktu.edu) and at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio st. 20, 44239 Kaunas, Lithuania) and Lithuanian Energy Institute (Breslaujos st. 3, 44403 Kaunas, Lithuania).

Annotation:
Practical application of hydrogen fuel cells in portable low-power electronic devices is limited due to the complex and expensive hydrogen storage systems. Therefore hydrogen storage systems could be replaced by the smaller equipment for hydrogen synthesis on demand, where hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell after its extraction during the direct reaction between metal and water. Aluminum as very abundant element is considered to be one of the most promising metal for hydrogen production on demand. However, aluminum surface is passivated by the water insoluble and protective Al2O3 layer which prevents water molecules from direct contact with metal and hydrogen production under ambient conditions. Most methods for Al surface activation are usually based on expensive or environmentally unfriendly materials and very high temperature. Also, hydrogen synthesis is very slow and incomplete. Consequently, other unique solutions are needed in order to remove or replace barrier layer at the surface of Al by avoiding expensive alloys and seeking energy consumption as low as possible. This work aimed in creation of technology based on low temperature plasma activation used for surface modification of Al powder and application of modified Al powder for hydrogen production during powder reaction with water, which could be used for electricity generation. About 96% of theoretical value of hydrogen amount is generated during the reaction between plasma activated Al powder and water.

• Summary of the dissertation
• Dissertation (in Lithuanian)