Synthesis, characterization, and enhanced hydrogen generation from NaBH4 methanolysis of highly dispersed bimetallic PdNi nanoparticles supported on Vulcan carbon

Abstract

In this presented work, the bimetallic palladium-nickel nanoparticles (PdNi NPs) supported by Vulcan carbon (VC) were synthesized by chemical method. The morphological structure of the synthesized PdNi@VC NPs was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrum (UV–Vis), Fourier infrared spectrometry (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization performed. According to the characterization results obtained, the size of the NPs was found to be 8.523 ± 2.036 nm. Then, hydrogen production efficiencies were tested according to different temperatures, substrate, and catalyst concentrations. Finally, the reusability test was performed. According to the results obtained, the hydrogen average production efficiency of NPs was calculated as 84%. The activation energy (Ea), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) values of the catalyst were found to be 54.2 kJ/mol, 51.7 kJ/mol, -134.5 J/mol.K, respectively. This study guides the new catalytic energy production studies to be carried out on nanotechnological platforms. These synthesized nanoparticles can be developed to be an efficient catalyst for hydrogen generation as an alternative energy source.