Solid composition, hydrogen generating method, and proton exchange membrane fuel cell

1. Solid composition which can decompose with the generation of hydrogen according to a self-sustaining combustion reaction after initiation of this reaction by an appropriate heat source, characterized in that the said composition consists of an alkali metal borohydride or alkaline earth metal borohydride and a perchlorate-based oxidizing salt corresponding to the general formula XClO 4 in which X represents the NH 4 group, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

2. Solid composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that X represents sodium or potassium.

3. Solid composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is provided in the form of a compact material.

4. Solid composition according to claim 3 , characterized in that the compact material is a pellet or a grain.

5. Solid composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alkali metal borohydride is chosen from the group consisting of lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride and their mixtures.

6. Solid composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alkaline earth metal borohydride is magnesium borohydride.

7. Solid composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ratio of content by weight of alkali metal borohydride or alkaline earth metal borohydride to content by weight of oxidizing salt XClO 4 is between 1 and 10.

8. Process for the generation of hydrogen by self-sustaining combustion of a solid composition comprising:

preparing a pulverulent or granular homogeneous solid composition consisting of an alkali metal borohydride or alkaline earth metal borohydride and a perchlorate-based oxidizing salt of general formula XClO 4 in which X represents an NH 4 group, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, agglomerating the solid composition to form a compact material,

placing the compact material in a combustion chamber,

initiating a self-sustaining combustion of the compact material with a heat source in the combustion chamber, and

generating hydrogen from the self-sustaining combustion of the compact material in the combustion chamber.

9. Hydrogen generator intended to supply hydrogen to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, characterized in that this generator is a pyrotechnic generator comprising a solid composition according to claim 1 .

10. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell using hydrogen as fuel, comprising at least one electrochemical cell ( 1 ) and one hydrogen generator connected to the anode compartment of the cell ( 1 ), characterized in that this hydrogen generator is a pyrotechnic generator according to claim 9 .

11. Solid composition which can decompose with the generation of hydrogen according to a self-sustaining combustion reaction after initiation of this reaction by an appropriate heat source, characterized in that the said composition consists of an alkali metal borohydride or alkaline earth metal borohydride, a perchlorate-based oxidizing salt corresponding to the general formula XClO 4 in which X represents the NH 4 group, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and a stabilizer.