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Metals as Clean Fuels
- 1st Edition - June 1, 2025
- Authors: Eric Detsi, Jeff Th. M. DeHosson
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 3 5 3 7 - 8
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 3 5 4 0 - 8
Metals as Clean Fuels paves the way to metals as alternative clean fuels, by describing a scalable selective leaching method to activate metal fuels by increasing their surface-t… Read more
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Request a sales quoteMetals as Clean Fuels paves the way to metals as alternative clean fuels, by describing a scalable selective leaching method to activate metal fuels by increasing their surface-to-volume ratio, boosting in that way their reactivity with water for hydrogen and heat generation. Not only are metal fuels more energy-dense than fossil fuels, but importantly they can generate energy without CO2 emissions, unlike fossil fuels.
After addressing the key questions and working principles in Chapters 1-3, the authors structured the content of the book by discussing metals at different ends of the energy density scale. In doing so, they examine zinc, which has a relatively low energy density, in Chapters 4 and 5. In contrast, they cover aluminum, situated at the high-density end, in Chapters 6 and 7. Next, the monograph further focuses on novel sustainable methods for fabricating metal/metal nanocomposites without the loss of sacrificial materials, as discussed in Chapters 8 and 9. This sustainable synthesis approach minimizes material loss during the dealloying process and creates new opportunities for developing metal/metal nanocomposites made from dissimilar nanoporous metal layers stacked together.
Finally, the book shows that, in addition to chemical composition and geometrical defects like interfaces, topology is an important design parameter. An inspiring methodology based on Integral-Geometry Morphological Image Analysis for porous material systems is presented, demonstrating that this method effectively analyzes geometrical objects and topological patterns in various porous systems in Chapter 10.
The monograph is the first of its kind to discuss state-of-the-art nanostructured metals as clean fuels. This timely book has the potential to catalyze and advance research in a field that lies at the intersection of various materials science disciplines. It aims to create highly versatile material systems for energy applications.
- Examines various methods of metal fuel activation through nanostructuring, i.e., creating nanoporous metal fuels through selective chemical and electrolytic dealloying
- Discusses a novel, versatile electrolytic method for making nanoporous metals that nearly eliminates the loss of sacrificial materials
- Includes the characterization of the fascinating intertwining of two different items in porous structures, i.e., geometry and topology. An integral-geometry based approach is presented demonstrating the simplicity of its practical application to porous systems
Materials Scientists and Engineers. Industrial and academic researchers working in fields of green energy materials, hydrolysis and battery, Professionals in the energy sector including Government Workers, Policy Makers, Business Professionals
About the authors
1. How Metal Fuels Work
1.1 Overview
1.2 Why use metals as clean fuels
1.3 A key challenge with metal fuels
1.4 Working principle of batteries
1.5 Working principle of dry metal fuels
1.6 Working principle of wet metal fuels
References
2. Activation of Metal Fuels
2.1 Overview
2.2 Chemical activation of metal fuels using catalysts
2.3 Chemical activation of metal fuels using reaction promotors
2.4 Activation of metal fuels by nanostructuring
2.5 Thermal activation of metal fuels and their drawbacks
References
3. Fundamentals of Dealloying
3.1 Overview
3.2 Nanoporosity formation via a spinodal decomposition pathway
3.3 Background and current state of the field
3.4 Chemical and electrochemical reaction mechanisms in dealloying
References
4. Monolithic Bulk Nanoporous Zinc by Free Corrosion Dealloying
4.1 Overview
4.2 Fundamental barriers to the synthesis of nanoporous zinc by dealloying
4.3 Chemical reaction mechanisms for the synthesis of nanoporous zinc by
free corrosion dealloying
4.4 Synthesis of metastable Zn20Al80 at. % parent alloy
4.5 Synthesis of monolithic bulk nanoporous Zn by free corrosion dealloying
4.6 Enhanced reactivity of monolithic nanoporous Zn fuel with water as the oxidizer
4.7 Conclusions
References
5. Rapid Synthesis of Nanoporous Zinc in Powder Form by Free Corrosion
5.1 Overview
5.2 Dealloyed nanoporous systems
5.3 Experimental methods
5.4 Nanoporous zinc powder by free corrosion dealloying
5.5 Enhanced reactivity of nanoporous Zn powder fuel with water as the oxidizer
5.6 Conclusions
References
6. Monolithic Bulk Nanoporous Aluminum by Air-Free Electrolytic Dealloying
with Recovery of Sacrificial Materials
6.1 Overview
6.2 Experimental methods
6.3 Characterization of the Al30Mg70 parent alloy
6.4 Synthesis and characterization of monolithic bulk nanoporous Al by Air-free
electrolytic dealloying with recovery of sacrificial Mg
6.5 Enhanced reactivity of monolithic nanoporous Al fuel with water as the oxidizer
6.6 Conclusions
References
7. Rapid Synthesis of Nanoporous Aluminum Powder by Air-Free Electrolytic
Dealloying with Recovery of Sacrificial Materials
7.1 Overview
7.2 Rapid synthesis of nanoporous Al powder by Air-free electrolytic dealloying
with recovery of sacrificial Mg
7.3 Enhanced reactivity of nanoporous Al powder fuel with water as the oxidizer
7.4 Complete conversion of NP-Al into hydrogen gas, Al(OH)3, and heat
7.5 Conversion of Al(OH)3 into activated alumina η-Al2O3 with high specific surface area
7.6 Search for new electrolytes for the fabrication of ultrafine nanoporous Al
7.7 Conclusions
References
8. Nanoporous tri-layer of similar elements by etching without sacrificing materials
through the Kirkendall effect
8.1 Overview
8.2 Nanoporous layers and Kirkendall effect
8.3 Experimental methods
8.4 Results and Discussion
8.5 Conclusions
Appendix 8.A
References
9. Nanoporous tri-layer of dissimilar elements by etching without sacrificing materials
through the Kirkendall effect
9.1 Overview
9.2 Dissimilar nanoporous metal layers
9.3 Experimental methods
9.4 Results and Discussion
9.5 Conclusions
Appendix 9.A
References
10. Porous structures and their geometric and topological characteristics
10.1 Overview
10.2 Structural analysis
10.3 Integral geometry: Theory
10.4 Integral geometry in practice
10.5 Topology of periodic porous structures
10.6 Topology of aperiodic porous structures
10.7 Conclusions
Appendix 10.A Noise and artefacts
Appendix 10.B Algorithm
Appendix 10.C Programming example (Fortran 90)
References
1. How Metal Fuels Work
1.1 Overview
1.2 Why use metals as clean fuels
1.3 A key challenge with metal fuels
1.4 Working principle of batteries
1.5 Working principle of dry metal fuels
1.6 Working principle of wet metal fuels
References
2. Activation of Metal Fuels
2.1 Overview
2.2 Chemical activation of metal fuels using catalysts
2.3 Chemical activation of metal fuels using reaction promotors
2.4 Activation of metal fuels by nanostructuring
2.5 Thermal activation of metal fuels and their drawbacks
References
3. Fundamentals of Dealloying
3.1 Overview
3.2 Nanoporosity formation via a spinodal decomposition pathway
3.3 Background and current state of the field
3.4 Chemical and electrochemical reaction mechanisms in dealloying
References
4. Monolithic Bulk Nanoporous Zinc by Free Corrosion Dealloying
4.1 Overview
4.2 Fundamental barriers to the synthesis of nanoporous zinc by dealloying
4.3 Chemical reaction mechanisms for the synthesis of nanoporous zinc by
free corrosion dealloying
4.4 Synthesis of metastable Zn20Al80 at. % parent alloy
4.5 Synthesis of monolithic bulk nanoporous Zn by free corrosion dealloying
4.6 Enhanced reactivity of monolithic nanoporous Zn fuel with water as the oxidizer
4.7 Conclusions
References
5. Rapid Synthesis of Nanoporous Zinc in Powder Form by Free Corrosion
5.1 Overview
5.2 Dealloyed nanoporous systems
5.3 Experimental methods
5.4 Nanoporous zinc powder by free corrosion dealloying
5.5 Enhanced reactivity of nanoporous Zn powder fuel with water as the oxidizer
5.6 Conclusions
References
6. Monolithic Bulk Nanoporous Aluminum by Air-Free Electrolytic Dealloying
with Recovery of Sacrificial Materials
6.1 Overview
6.2 Experimental methods
6.3 Characterization of the Al30Mg70 parent alloy
6.4 Synthesis and characterization of monolithic bulk nanoporous Al by Air-free
electrolytic dealloying with recovery of sacrificial Mg
6.5 Enhanced reactivity of monolithic nanoporous Al fuel with water as the oxidizer
6.6 Conclusions
References
7. Rapid Synthesis of Nanoporous Aluminum Powder by Air-Free Electrolytic
Dealloying with Recovery of Sacrificial Materials
7.1 Overview
7.2 Rapid synthesis of nanoporous Al powder by Air-free electrolytic dealloying
with recovery of sacrificial Mg
7.3 Enhanced reactivity of nanoporous Al powder fuel with water as the oxidizer
7.4 Complete conversion of NP-Al into hydrogen gas, Al(OH)3, and heat
7.5 Conversion of Al(OH)3 into activated alumina η-Al2O3 with high specific surface area
7.6 Search for new electrolytes for the fabrication of ultrafine nanoporous Al
7.7 Conclusions
References
8. Nanoporous tri-layer of similar elements by etching without sacrificing materials
through the Kirkendall effect
8.1 Overview
8.2 Nanoporous layers and Kirkendall effect
8.3 Experimental methods
8.4 Results and Discussion
8.5 Conclusions
Appendix 8.A
References
9. Nanoporous tri-layer of dissimilar elements by etching without sacrificing materials
through the Kirkendall effect
9.1 Overview
9.2 Dissimilar nanoporous metal layers
9.3 Experimental methods
9.4 Results and Discussion
9.5 Conclusions
Appendix 9.A
References
10. Porous structures and their geometric and topological characteristics
10.1 Overview
10.2 Structural analysis
10.3 Integral geometry: Theory
10.4 Integral geometry in practice
10.5 Topology of periodic porous structures
10.6 Topology of aperiodic porous structures
10.7 Conclusions
Appendix 10.A Noise and artefacts
Appendix 10.B Algorithm
Appendix 10.C Programming example (Fortran 90)
References
- No. of pages: 420
- Language: English
- Edition: 1
- Published: June 1, 2025
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443135378
- eBook ISBN: 9780443135408
ED
Eric Detsi
Eric Detsi is currently an Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his BSc (2006), MSc (2008), and PhD (with honors and highest distinction, 2012) degrees in Applied Physics at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands; afterward, he carried out his postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California in Los Angeles (2013–2016) as a Netherlands Science Foundation Rubicon Fellow.
He joined the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 as an Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. His current research involves electrochemical energy conversion and storage using nonconventional materials, such as liquid metals, nonprecious nanoporous metals, and disordered three-dimensional metal scaffolds. For details, see: https://directory.seas.upenn.edu/eric-detsi/.
Affiliations and expertise
Department of Materials Science & Engineering University of Pennsylvania, USAJD
Jeff Th. M. DeHosson
Jeff Th. M. DeHosson received a PhD in Physics from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands (with honors and highest distinction), and after his postdoctoral years in the USA (Northwestern University and UC Berkeley), he was appointed Professor in 1977 by the Crown (H.M. Queen Juliana). His passion is to carry out innovative and (pre-)competitive research in the field of materials sciences, with a particular emphasis on advances in (in situ) electron microscopy, lasers, and nanostructured materials, e.g., highly nanoporous materials, as started with Eric Detsi in 2008.
He is the Elected Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (division physics), the Royal Holland Society for Sciences and Humanities, and Academia Europaea; the Editor of Acta Materialia journals; and a Fellow of various scientific societies, including TMS—USA—and FASM—USA. He acts as the Honorary Professor of Tsinghua University, Beijing; UST, Beijing; and the University of Port Elizabeth, SA. For his scientific research, he was honored with several international awards, including the European Materials Gold Medal, and he became Knighted by the Crown in 2019 (Knighthood, Netherlands Lion). For details, see https://www.rug.nl/staff/j.t.m.de.hosson/cv.
Affiliations and expertise
Tsinghua University, Beijing; UST, Beijing; and the University of Port Elizabeth, SA.