Abstract: The present invention provides methods and materials for the formation of hydrogen storage alanes, AlHx, where x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 6 at reduced H2 pressures and temperatures. The methods rely upon reduction of the change in free energy of the reaction between aluminum and molecular H2. The change in free energy is reduced by lowering the entropy change during the reaction by providing aluminum in a state of high entropy, and by increasing the magnitude of the change in enthalpy of the reaction or combinations thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to activated aluminum hydride hydrogen storage compositions containing aluminum hydride in the presence of, or absence of, hydrogen desorption stimulants. The invention particularly relates to such compositions having one or more hydrogen desorption stimulants selected from metal hydrides and metal aluminum hydrides. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for generating hydrogen from such hydrogen storage compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and materials for the formation of hydrogen storage alanes, AlHx, where x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 6 at reduced H2 pressures and temperatures. The methods rely upon reduction of the change in free energy of the reaction between aluminum and molecular H2. The change in free energy is reduced by lowering the entropy change during the reaction by providing aluminum in a state of high entropy, and by increasing the magnitude of the change in enthalpy of the reaction or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of large surface area thin films of vaporizable solids upon substrate materials is provided. The method is particularly applicable to the fabrication of thin films having semiconducting properties useful as solar cells, in the production of microelectronic devices, and other similar purposes. A solid material is vaporized in a temperature-zoned furnace in association with a flowing carrier gas. The vaporized solid is allowed to condense to form an aerosol of disperse sized particles; the smaller of these particles are again vaporized leaving a lesser number of seed aerosol nuclei which are then grown to a larger size and diverted through an orifice to impact upon a substrate moving beneath the orifice thereby forming a particulate film on the substrate.