Getter materials for cracking ammonia

A method for operating a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine having an ammonia storage vessel coupled with an ammonia cracking vessel, said ammonia cracking vessel being coupled with said hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine, said method comprising:

• passing said ammonia from said ammonia storage vessel into said ammonia cracking vessel, said ammonia cracking vessel containing an ammonia cracking catalyst, wherein said ammonia cracking catalyst contains (1) an alloy having the general formula Zr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x M.sub.1 M.sub.2, wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are selected independently from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, and x is in the range from 0.0 to 1.0 inclusive;
• and (2) between about 20% by weight and about 50% by weight Al to produce thereby nitrogen and hydrogen gases;
• passing said hydrogen gas to said hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine;
• and
• combusting said hydrogen gas to power said hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine.

A method for operating a hydrogen fuel cell having an ammonia storage vessel coupled with an ammonia-containing ammonia cracking vessel, said ammonia cracking vessel being coupled with said hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine, said method comprising:

• passing said ammonia from said ammonia storage vessel into said ammonia cracking vessel, said ammonia cracking vessel containing an ammonia cracking catalyst, wherein said ammonia cracking catalyst contains (1) an alloy having the general formula Zr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x M.sub.1 M.sub.2, wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are selected independently from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, and x is in the range from 0.0 to 1.0 inclusive;
• and (2) between about 20% by weight and about 50% by weight Al to produce thereby nitrogen and hydrogen gases;
• passing said hydrogen gas to said hydrogen fuel cell;
• and
• reacting said hydrogen in said hydrogen fuel cell to produce an electric current.