Method of and apparatus for producing hydrogen from methanol

Abstract

A method that allows producing hydrogen from methanol in a simple manner and an apparatus that is small in size and light in weight, which can produce hydrogen from methanol, are provided. The apparatus comprises a container () that retains liquid methanol () as a source material and gases () generated therein, a substrate () that is immersed in liquid methanol () in the container () loaded with a catalyst, and a power supply () for passing a direct or an alternating current through the substrate (). The substrate may be made of an oxide or oxidized material, especially oxidized diamond, and loaded with a transition metal catalyst, especially Ni catalyst. With the substrate () heated, a novel catalytic methanol decomposition reaction occurs by a combination of abrupt temperature gradient directing towards methanol from the surface of the substrate, a catalysis of the oxide or oxidized material of the substrate and a catalysis of the catalyst loaded on the substrate, and a large amount of hydrogen gas is produced.