Patent ID: 7722853
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling the generation of hydrogen gas from a metal borohydride solution with organic pigment catalysts, comprising: selecting a hydrogen-rich borohydride; adding the borohydride to an aqueous alkaline solution; stabilizing the borohydride in the aqueous alkaline solution; maintaining the temperature of the solution above the freezing point and below the vaporization point of said solution; immersing a catalyst strip consisting of an organic pigment selected from the group consisting of pyranthrenedione, indanthrene gold orange, ditridecyl-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide, indanthrene black, dimethoxy violanthrone, 1,4-diketopyrrolo -3,4C pyrrole, quinacridone, indanthrene yellow, 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, isoviolanthrone, and perylenetetracarboxylic diimide, in the form of a solid, loose powder immobilized on a substrate selected from the group consisting of ceramics, cements, glass, zeolites, perovskites, fibers, fibrous material, mesh, polymeric resin and plastic, wherein the catalyst strip is manipulated so that an immersion depth of the catalyst into the borohydride solution is varied to expand the total area that is performing the hydrogen-gas evolving borohydride decomposition reaction represented by the equation, BH increasing the rate of decomposition of the metal borohydride into hydrogen gas and a metal salt; and directing the hydrogen gas to an operably connected, hydrogen-consuming device.