Generation of Ultra-Pure Hydrogen Gas Utilizing Nanoporous Silicon Technology

Abstract Hydrogen energy is considered a renewable energy source as well as a future fuel choice. Nanoporous-silicon (NPS) is needed in many fields such as sensors, optoelectronics, drugs and hydrogen production. This study aims to produce ultra-pure hydrogen gas and (NPS-powder) from Si-powder processing at different KOH %weights as a base medium and different n-propanol % volumes as a wetting agent. Alkaline etching of Si-powder to produce (NPS) is also considered a source of H 2 -production. The results show the high purity of H 2 gas (99.99%) produced through this process. The method provides for generating H 2 gas at room temperature from commercial Si-powder is processing, without using any source of energy and at a stable, high generation rate (≈ 1 L / 20 min). XRD results confirmed the formation of (NPS), its particle size ranged (from 0.05 to 4.00 µm). In addition, TEM measurements indicated the existence of a nano-ribbon structure with the polycrystalline nature of (NPS).