As a highly efficient reduced graphene oxide-supported ternary catalysts for the fast hydrogen release from NaBH4

Abstract

In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based Co–Cu–B nanocatalysts were produced to catalytic efficiency of hydrogen (H2) generation from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis reaction. The characterization was achieved by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope (S-4800) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Co–Cu–B(5%(wt))/rGO trimetallic nanoparticles provide an initial H2 production rate of 13,000 mL g−1 min−1 (3%(wt) NaBH4), turnover frequency 4013 h−1 and activation energy (Ea) 36.76 kJ mol−1 at room temperature that shows higher catalytic activity than most of the recently reported noble metal based on a heterogeneous catalyst that is used in the reaction of hydrolytic dehydrogenation of NaBH4. The excellent hydrolysis performance of Co–Cu–B(5%(wt))/rGO can be attributed to both synergistic effect and high surface area of rGO. The improvement of effective and inexpensive Co–Cu–B(5%(wt))/rGO catalysts enhances the applicability of NaBH4 as chemical H2 safekeeping equipment that can be used in the H2 fuel cell industry.