Post #3236819

2026-06-04 21:45 UTC

Yeah I’m fuzzy on the specifics - and it was a few years back and I haven’t heard any updates lately. Aluminum oxide is indeed a pain in the ass - which I believe is part of why they pitched it as an exchange because recharging is beyond what consumers can normally be expected to afford.

Replies (2)

@cjd@pkteerium.xyz 2026-06-04 21:50

There's a neat trick where you catch the end of an aluminum wire on fire (presumably using electric arc) and then plunge it into water and it yanks o2 off of the water making a whole lot of h2. It leaves alumina sludge in the water which you need to take to an aluminum smelter to get it back to it's original state. IIRC the round trip efficiency is quite abysmal because the aluminum smelting process is insane.

Open ##3236822
@BowsacNoodle@poa.st 2026-06-05 02:04

>Aluminum based nanogalvanic alloys >alloy powders have also been considered as an alternative energy source for batteries (coupled with fuel cells). Demonstrated to produce 1000 ml. of hydrogen gas per gram of aluminum in less than 1 minute and 1340 ml—100% of the theoretical yield at 295 K and 1 atm.—in 3 minutes without the need for hazardous or costly materials, or additional processes. Approximately double rate of reaction in urine. Basically can make a fuel pack from aluminum dust made from machining byproduct. It is very good for creating hydrogen. Since hydrogen fuel cells produce water, it could feed itself and not need much. Or a drone could land and open its hatch and passively gain water when rain hits it and start the reaction.

Open ##3236834