Here disclosed is a composite catalyst for methane cracking and a method of producing the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst includes a substrate formed of metal oxide, and one or more catalytic transition metals solubilized in the metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide includes a metal which differs from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the metal oxide forms a matrix which the one or more catalytic transition metals are solubilized in to render transition metal ions from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the transition metal ions under a reducing atmosphere diffuse to reside as transition metal nanoparticles at a surface of the substrate and the transition metal nanoparticles under an oxidizing atmosphere diffuse away from the surface to reside as transition metal ions in the metal oxide, and wherein the transition metal nanoparticles at the surface induce carbon from the methane cracking to deposit on the transition metal nanoparticles and have the carbon deposited grow away from the substrate.

Here disclosed is a composite catalyst for methane cracking and a method of producing the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst includes a substrate formed of metal oxide, and one or more catalytic transition metals solubilized in the metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide includes a metal which differs from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the metal oxide forms a matrix which the one or more catalytic transition metals are solubilized in to render transition metal ions from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the transition metal ions under a reducing atmosphere diffuse to reside as transition metal nanoparticles at a surface of the substrate and the transition metal nanoparticles under an oxidizing atmosphere diffuse away from the surface to reside as transition metal ions in the metal oxide, and wherein the transition metal nanoparticles at the surface induce carbon from the methane cracking to deposit on the transition metal nanoparticles and have the carbon deposited grow away from the substrate.

A composition for hydrogen (H.sub.2) storage and generation including lithium aluminum hydride (LAIN is provided. The composition includes a mixture of LiAlH.sub.4 and a catalytic metal additive designed to tailor the kinetics of hydrogen release. The LiAlH.sub.4 and catalytic metal additive and are gently mixed together in order to physically disperse the LiAlH.sub.4 and catalyst powders without causing a detrimental chemical interaction. The hydrogen capacity of the composition is substantially not reduced or decreased (e.g., undergoes less than about 5% reduction) during the mixing process.

A hydrogen production apparatus includes a heating furnace that burns fuel supplied by a fuel supply unit and heats catalyst particles, a cyclone that is connected to a downstream side of the heating furnace and separates the catalyst particles and a combustion exhaust gas, and a thermal decomposition furnace including a storage tank that stores the catalyst particles separated by the cyclone and a raw material gas introduction unit that introduces a raw material gas containing at least hydrocarbon from a lower portion of the storage tank.

A hydrogen production apparatus includes a heating furnace that burns fuel supplied by a fuel supply unit and heats catalyst particles, a cyclone that is connected to a downstream side of the heating furnace and separates the catalyst particles and a combustion exhaust gas, and a thermal decomposition furnace including a storage tank that stores the catalyst particles separated by the cyclone and a raw material gas introduction unit that introduces a raw material gas containing at least hydrocarbon from a lower portion of the storage tank.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for cracking hydrocarbons into hydrogen gas and carbon using heating of a fluidized bed. The systems and methods utilize electrically conductive carbon or graphite particles as a fluidized bed material for heating hydrocarbon feedstock to at least a pyrolysis temperature. The electrically conductive carbon, graphite, or other particles may be heated by electrically powered sources that include induction heating, microwave heating, millimeter wave heating, joule heating and/or plasma heating. Combustion heating may also be employed in varying amounts with varying combinations of electrically powered heating sources.

Provided is an accommodation body that accommodates a raw material including a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas is capable of being obtained by subjecting the raw material to a dehydrogenation reaction. The raw material and a dehydrogenation product produced in combination with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction are capable of being loaded together in an internal space.

Provided is a hydrogen supply system that supplies hydrogen. The hydrogen supply system includes: a dehydrogenation reaction unit that subjects a raw material including a hydride to a dehydrogenation reaction to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas; a circulation system that circulates a reaction inactive fluid to the dehydrogenation reaction unit; and a control unit that controls the hydrogen supply system. The control unit circulates the reaction inactive fluid with the circulation system in a case where production of the hydrogen-containing gas in the dehydrogenation reaction unit is stopped.

A catalyst for forming a synthetic gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon-based gas, the catalyst containing a complex oxide having a perovskite structure, wherein the complex oxide has a crystal phase containing CaZrO.sub.3 as a primary component and contains Ru and at least one of Ce and Y.

A catalyst for forming a synthetic gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon-based gas, the catalyst containing a complex oxide having a perovskite structure, wherein the complex oxide has a crystal phase containing CaZrO.sub.3 as a primary component and contains Ru and at least one of Ce and Y.