Abstract

Application of transition metal boride (TMB) catalysts towards hydrolysis of NaBH4 holds great significance to help relieve the energy crisis. Herein, we present a facile and versatile metal-organic framework (MOF) assisted strategy to prepare Co2B-CoPOx with massive boron vacancies by introducing phytic acid (PA) cross-linked Co complexes that are acquired from reaction of PA and ZIF-67 into cobalt boride. The PA etching effectively breaks down the structure of ZIF-67 to create more vacancies, favoring the maximal exposure of active sites and elevation of catalytic activity. Experimental results demonstrate a drastic electronic interaction between Co and the dopant phosphorous (P), thereby the robustly electronegative P induces electron redistribution around the metal species, which facilitates the dissociation of B-H bond and the adsorption of H2O molecules. The vacancy-rich Co2B-CoPOx catalyst exhibits scalable performance, characterized by a high hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 7716.7 mL min−1 g−1 and a low activation energy (Ea) of 44.9 kJ/mol, rivaling state-of-the-art catalysts. This work provides valuable insights for the development of advanced catalysts through P doping and boron vacancy engineering and the design of efficient and sustainable energy conversion systems.

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