# US 2014/0154173 A1 · Methods and systems for producing hydrogen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154173 A1 - Document ID: US20140154173A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/235,022 - Filed: 2012-07-24 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-25 - Assignees: H2 Catalyst, LLC - Applicants: H2 Catalyst, LLC - Inventors: Douglas Howard Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154173A1 ## CPC - C01B 3/08: by reaction of inorganic compounds with metals - B01J 7/02: by wet methods - B01J 19/087: {employing electric or magnetic energy} - H01M 8/065: by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances - H01M 8/0656: by electrochemical means (H01M8/065 takes precedence) - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems for hydrogen production using an electro-activated material are provided. In some exemplary embodiments, carbon can be electro-activated and used in a chemical reaction with water and a fuel, such as aluminum, to generate hydrogen, where the by-products are electro-activated carbon, and aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide. Controlling the temperature of the reaction, and the amounts of aluminum and electro-activated carbon can provide hydrogen on demand at a desired rate of hydrogen generation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a catalyst for hydrogen production, comprising: providing electrical energy to a carbon material to electro-activate the carbon material; and using the electro-activated carbon material to produce hydrogen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon material is provided in a liquid composition comprising water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid composition further comprises an electrolyte. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy is provided at approximately 6 ampere-hours. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon material is one or more of pure carbon, solid carbon, crushed carbon, sintered carbon, carbon composites, charcoal, pressed carbon, carbon blocks, graphite, carbon granules, granulated activated carbon or coal. ### Claim 6 A method of producing hydrogen, comprising: combining electro-activated carbon with a liquid composition; and generating a chemical reaction between the combination of electro-activated carbon and the liquid composition to produce hydrogen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: combining the electro-activated carbon and liquid composition with a fuel; and generating a chemical reaction between the combination of the electro-activated carbon, liquid composition and fuel to produce hydrogen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the fuel is one of pure aluminum, aluminum powder, aluminum granules or aluminum shavings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: controlling the chemical reaction of the combination of electro-activated carbon, water and fuel to produce hydrogen on demand. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the chemical reaction is controlled by heating the combination to increase the production of hydrogen, and by cooling the combination to decrease the production of hydrogen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the combination is heated to a temperature range between approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the chemical reaction is controlled by adding amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, liquid composition and fuel to increase the production of hydrogen, and removing amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, liquid composition and fuel to decrease the production of hydrogen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the liquid composition comprises water, tap water, dirty water, high-calcium water, salt water, sea water, alkaline water or acidic water. ### Claim 14 A system for producing a catalyst for hydrogen production, comprising: an activation cell having a carbon material; and an apparatus configured to provide electrical energy to electro-activate the carbon material in the activation cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the carbon material is provided in a liquid composition comprising water in the activation cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the liquid composition further comprises an electrolyte. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide electrical energy at approximately 6 ampere-hours. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the carbon material is one or more of pure carbon, solid carbon, crushed carbon, sintered carbon, carbon composites, charcoal, pressed carbon, carbon blocks, graphite, carbon granules, granulated activated carbon or coal. ### Claim 19 A system for producing hydrogen, comprising: a vessel having a liquid composition and electro-activated carbon; and an apparatus for generating a chemical reaction between the liquid composition and electro-activated carbon to produce hydrogen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising: a fuel provided in the vessel with the liquid composition and electro-activated carbon; wherein the apparatus generates a chemical reaction between the liquid composition, electro-activated carbon and fuel to produce hydrogen. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the fuel is one of pure aluminum, aluminum powder, aluminum granules or aluminum shavings. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising: one or more mechanisms to control the chemical reaction between the liquid composition, electro-activated carbon and fuel to produce hydrogen on demand. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more mechanisms heat the combination of the liquid composition, electro-activated carbon and fuel to increase the production of hydrogen, and cool the combination of the liquid composition, electro-activated carbon and fuel to decrease the production of hydrogen. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more mechanisms heat the combination of electro-activated carbon, water and fuel to a temperature range between approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the chemical reaction is controlled by adding amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, liquid composition and fuel to increase the production of hydrogen, and removing amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, liquid composition and fuel to decrease the production of hydrogen. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the liquid composition comprises water, tap water, dirty water, high-calcium water, salt water, sea water, alkaline water or acidic water.