Method of generating thermal energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of generating thermal energy, the method comprising: (i) contacting a surface of a metal with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to form a surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon; and (ii) exposing the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon to an atmosphere comprising oxygen, wherein the oxygen reacts with the absorbed hydrogen to produce thermal energy, wherein before performing step (ii) the surface is activated with an atmosphere comprising water.

1 . A method of generating thermal energy, the method comprising:
 (i) contacting a surface of a metal with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to form a surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon; and   (ii) exposing the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon to an atmosphere comprising oxygen, wherein the oxygen reacts with the absorbed hydrogen to produce thermal energy,   wherein before performing step (ii) the surface is activated with an atmosphere comprising water.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal is a transition metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  the wherein the metal comprises one or more of gold, nickel, copper, ruthenium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, silver, platinum, iron, palladium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the metal comprises an alloy of one or more metals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal is palladium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein after step (i) and before step (ii) at least a portion of the hydrogen which is absorbed on the surface of the metal is desorbed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the prior to step (ii) the surface of the metal is from 0.1% to 20% saturated with absorbed hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal is exposed to atmosphere comprising from 0.1 to 100 μmol of water per gram of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The method  claim 1  wherein in step (ii) the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to an atmosphere comprising from 0.1 to 50 μmol of oxygen per gram of metal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (ii) the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to a pulse of oxygen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to repeated pulses of oxygen. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein after the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon has been exposed to an atmosphere comprising oxygen, the surface is recharged by contacting it with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to form a surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  performed as a continuous process for the generation of thermal energy by repeating steps (i) and (ii) in turn. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal is in the form of a powder, particle, flake, fibre, sponge, or is deposited on a support. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  comprising exposing the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon to an atmosphere comprising one or more noble gases. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An energy storage apparatus comprising:
 a vessel containing metal;   a means for contacting the metal with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to absorb hydrogen onto the surface of the metal;   a means for exposing the metal having hydrogen absorbed thereon to an atmosphere comprising water; and   a means for exposing the metal to an atmosphere comprising oxygen.   
     
     
         18 . A method of generating thermal energy, the method comprising:
 (i) contacting a surface comprising (a) palladium or (b) cobalt and iron with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to form a surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon; and   (ii) exposing the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon to an atmosphere comprising oxygen, wherein the oxygen reacts with the absorbed hydrogen to produce thermal energy.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the surface comprises (a) palladium. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, after step (i) and before step (ii) at least a portion of the hydrogen which is absorbed on the surface of the metal is desorbed. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, prior to step (ii), the surface is from 0.1% to 20% saturated with absorbed hydrogen. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to an atmosphere comprising from 1 to 50 μmol of oxygen per gram of palladium or molar equivalent of cobalt and iron. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein in step (ii) the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to a pulse of oxygen. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon is exposed to repeated pulses of oxygen. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein after the surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon has been exposed to an atmosphere comprising oxygen, the surface is recharged by contacting it with an atmosphere comprising hydrogen to form a surface having hydrogen absorbed thereon. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)