Al-Bi alloys and Al-Bi-C composites with different compositions were synthesized by highpressure torsion (HPT) and their hydrogen generation behavior via hydrolysis was investigated in contact with pure water. Bi was added to Al to enhance the effect of nano galvanic cells and to promote the pitting corrosion, and C in the form of graphite was added to Al to accelerate the fragmentation of the composite and to increase the total active surface area. An optimized Al-30 wt%Bi-10 wt%C composition exhibited a hydrogen generation rate as fast as 270 ml min(-1) g(-1) in water and its total hydrogen generation amount reached the theoretical level at 333 K (all aluminum atoms reacted with water in less than 10 min and formed Al2O3). (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.