Hydrogen production apparatus, hydrogen production method, silicon fine particles for hydrogen production, and production method for silicon fine particles for hydrogen production

Abstract

An exemplary hydrogen production apparatusaccording to the present invention includes a grinding unitconfigured to grind a silicon chip or a silicon grinding scrapto form silicon fine particles, and a hydrogen generatorconfigured to generate hydrogen by causing the silicon fine particlesto contact with as well as disperse in, or to contact with or dispersed in water or an aqueous solution. The hydrogen production apparatuscan achieve reliable production of a practically adequate amount of hydrogen from a start material of silicon chips or silicon grinding scraps that are ordinarily regarded as waste. The hydrogen production apparatus thus effectively utilizes the silicon chips or the silicon grinding scraps so as to contribute to environmental protection as well as to significant reduction in cost for production of hydrogen that is utilized as an energy source in the next generation.