Hydrolysis Of Sodium Borohydride Research Articles

Understanding the Problem of Hydrogen Storage Using a Demonstration: Coupling a Hydrogen Generator Based on the Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride to a Fuel-Cell Kit

Understanding the Problem of Hydrogen Storage Using a Demonstration: Coupling a Hydrogen Generator Based on the Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride to a Fuel-Cell Kit

Non-Precious Metals Catalysts for Hydrogen Generation

In this paper, the generation of hydrogen from alkaline sodium borohydride solution by hydrolysis is studied. To obtain catalysts for efficient hydrogen generation, Ni, Mn, Mo, and Co metals were deposited on the Cu surface by the simple electroless metal deposition method using morpholine borane as a reducing agent. Depending on the peculiarities of the deposition of each metal, the coating thickness was ca. 1 μm for all catalysts. The deposited coatings were compact and crack-free, with multilayer characteristics and a cauliflower-like structure. The prepared Ni/Cu, NiMn/Cu, NiMo/Cu, NiCo/Cu, NiCoMn/Cu, NiCoMo/Cu, and NiCoMoMn/Cu catalysts showed an efficient catalytic activity for sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction. The lowest activation energy of 45.3 kJ mol−1 for sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction was obtained using the NiCoMoMn/Cu catalyst. The highest hydrogen generation rate of 3.08 mL min−1 was also achieved using this catalyst at 303 K. With a further increase in temperature to 343 K, the hydrogen generation rate catalyzed by the NiCoMoMn/Cu increased 7.7 times and reached 23.57 mL min−1.

Ruthenium and Platinum-Modified Titanium Dioxide Support for NaBH4 Hydrolysis.

Highly stable platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts on titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticle support were prepared. The productivity of hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis was observed to be as high as 95%. The activation energies for the hydrolysis reaction in the presence of Ru/TiO2 in aqueous and alkaline solutions were 62.00 and 64.65 kJ mol-1, respectively. On the other hand, the activation energy value of the hydrolysis reaction with the Pt/TiO2 catalyst decreased from 60.5 to 53.2 kJ mol-1, and the solution was changed from an aqueous to an alkaline medium. The experimental results have indicated that NaOH concentration (ranging from 0.5 to 2 M) affected the hydrogen generation rate (HGR) differently for both metals on the TiO2 support. Consequently, the HGR of the hydrolysis reaction in the presence of the Ru/TiO2 catalyst decreased with increasing NaOH concentration, whereas the Pt/TiO2 catalyst efficiency increased with increasing NaOH concentration.

Synthesis of Trimetallic Nanoparticle (NiCoPd)-Supported Carbon Nanofibers as a Catalyst for NaBH4 Hydrolysis.

The generation of H2 via the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (SBH) has promise as a practical and secure approach to produce H2, a secure and environmentally friendly energy source for the foreseeable future. In this study, distinctive trimetallic NiCoPd nanoparticle-supported carbon nanofibers (NiCoPd tri-NPs@CNFs) is synthesized via sol-gel and electrospinning approaches. The fabricated trimetallic catalysts show an excellent catalytic performance for the generation of H2 from the hydrolysis of SBH. Standard physicochemical techniques were used to characterize the as-prepared NiCoPd tri-NPs@CNFs. The results show that NiCoPd tri-NPs@CNFs is formed, with an average particle size of about 21 nm. When compared to NiCo bimetallic NP @CNFS, all NiCoPd tri-NPs@CNFs formulations demonstrated greater catalytic activates for the hydrolysis of SBH. The improved catalytic activity may be due in the majority to the synergistic interaction between the three metals in the trimetallic architecture. Furthermore, the activation energy for the catalytic hydrolysis of SBH by the NiCoPd tri-NPs@CNFs was determined to be 16.30 kJ mol-1. The kinetics studies show that the reaction is of a first order with respect to the catalyst loading amount and a half order with respect to the SBH concentration [SBH].

Synthesis of Copper/Sulfur Co-Doped TiO2-Carbon Nanofibers as Catalysts for H2 Production via NaBH4 Hydrolysis

Copper/sulfur co-doped titanium dioxide-carbon nanofibers (Cu,S-codoped TiO2 NPs, decorated-CNFs) catalysts were synthesized using the electrospinning process to produce composite nanofibers (NFs). These composite NFs were utilized for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (SBH) to generate hydrogen gas (H2), taking advantage of their catalytic properties. The experimental results demonstrated that using 100 mg of composite NFs yielded the highest catalytic activity for H2 production, generating 79 mL of H2 gas within 6 min at 25 °C and 1000 revolutions per minute (rpm) using 1 mmol of SBH. As the catalyst dosage was reduced from 100 mg to 75, 50, and 25 mg, the reaction time increased by 9, 13, and 18 min, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the reaction rate followed a first-order reaction, indicating a direct proportionality between the rate of reaction and the catalyst amount. Additionally, it was observed that the concentration of SBH had no influence on the reaction rate, suggesting a zero-order reaction. Increasing the reaction temperature resulted in a reduced reaction time. The activation energy was determined to be 26.16 kJ mol−1. The composite NFs maintained their superior performance over five iterations. These findings suggest that composite nanofibers have the potential to serve as a cost-effective alternative to expensive catalysts in hydrogen production.

Low temperature sol-gel synthesis of copper zinc ferrite for hydrogen catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

The spinal ferrites are regarded as promising for renewable energy application like hydrogen production from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) since they have superior catalytic activity. The current work considers the preparation of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) nanoparticles via the low temperature sol-gel method. The cubic crystal structure of nanoparticles was identified by XRD spectra analysis. The average crystal size was provided concerning the full width at half maximum to be 10.0 nm according to Scherer formula. FTIR spectra of synthesized ferrite nanoparticles showed the vibrational bands of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4. The images showed a cross-linked porous surface morphology. The TEM images of the CuFe2O4 and Cu0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 samples showed spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 10 nm. The surface area BET at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 content of zinc were 95, 66, 46, 49 and 41 m2/g. The values of direct band gaps for nanocrystalline Cu1-xZnxFe2O3 were 52.25, 2.0, 2.16, 1.9 and 2.11 eV at x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. The hydrogen catalytic effect of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 nanoparticles is accelerated, especially the sample CuFe2O4. The nanoparticles show high generation rates but the sample CuFe2O4 is the highest catalytic material (1810 mL/gmin).

Enhancing the efficiency of sodium borohydride hydrolysis with a novel CoB-Triton catalyst

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as the most significant alternative solution for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transportation. In particular, solid-state sodium borohydride (NaBH4) with its high hydrogen storage density stands out as the preferred choice due to its higher efficiency and improved safety. In present study, a surfactant-stabilized CoB catalyst was used in order to improve the hydrolysis performance of NaBH4. For this reason, the effects of Triton X-100, used as a surfactant in different quantities, on the hydrogen generation rate were tested. To characterize the prepared samples, several analytical techniques were employed, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Mastersizer analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. According to findings, 40.2% faster hydrogen generation rate is obtained with CoB-Triton 150 contrary to CoB catalyst. The optimum concentrations are found as 5% NaOH and 5% NaBH4 and activation energy is 44.21 kj/mol for developed CoB-Triton 150 catalyst. Last of all, fuel cell performances show that the produced hydrogen from hydrolysis reaction through CoB-Triton 150 catalyst has nearly same fuel cell performance compared to industrial pure hydrogen. Consequently, Triton X-100 is a good candidate to improve the hydrolysis performance of NaBH4 and needs further research.

Facile “Green” synthesis of a novel Co–W–B catalyst from Rheum ribes shell extract and its effect on sodium borohydride hydrolysis: Kinetic mechanism

The present investigation aimed to assess the influence of the Co–W–B NPs catalyst on the process of sodium borohydride hydrolysis. The study involved the synthesis of Co–W–B NPs through the utilization of an eco-friendly green synthesis extract derived from the Rheum ribes shell in conjunction with the chemical reduction technique for catalyst production. The investigation of catalysts' structure and surface morphology was conducted through the utilization of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The average particle size was determined to be 35 nm in TEM analysis. The presence of Co–W–B nanoparticles and their elemental composition % were determined through EDX analysis, revealing values of 63.9% (Co), 31.89% (C), 1.75% (B), and 2.46% (W) within the nanoparticle. The manufactured Co–W–B catalyst's use for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride was studied under various conditions, including different concentrations of NaOH and NaBH4, different amounts of catalyst, and different temperature parameters. The hydrogen production rate for the Co–W–B NPs catalyst in NaBH4 hydrolysis was determined to be 5367 mLg−1min−1 at 30 °C. The study involved the determination of TOF values for a catalyst composed of Co–W–B NPs, which were subjected to varying temperatures. The activation energies were determined through the utilization of the n-th order and Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic models and subsequently calculated using the Arrhenius equation, resulting in values of 35.36 and 31.70 kJ/mol, respectively. The values of enthalpy and entropy, ΔH and ΔS, were determined through the utilization of Eyring's equation, 18.49 kJ/mol and −80.7 J/mol.K, respectively.

From polysilazanes to highly micro-/mesoporous Si3N4 containing in situ immobilized Co or Ni-based nanoparticles

The in-situ immobilization of cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs) in a polymer-derived silicon nitride (Si3N4) matrix is firstly reported. It is accomplished by the coordination of a polysilazane with metal chlorides (CoCl2 or NiCl2) followed by the subsequent pyrolysis of the metal:organosilicon polymer coordination complex in the temperature range 700–1000 °C in flowing ammonia. By coupling X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) on powders, it has been shown that the phase composition and crystallinity (NPs and matrix) as well as the crystal size of the NPs can be finely tuned through the synthesis parameters including the type of metals, the Si:metal ratio, the reaction time, the self-crosslinking ability of the considered polysilazane in the presence of the metal salts and the heat-treatment temperature. Then, the micro-/mesoporosity of the Si3N4 matrix has been developed using a nano-casting approach to exploit the catalytic activity of NPs towards the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Hence, compounds with a matrix delivering BET specific surface areas (SSA) as high as 921.5 m2 g and supporting the NPs have been investigated to evaluate their potential for catalysis.

Hydrogen production performance and kinetic behavior from sodium borohydride hydrolysis with TiO2-supported Co-Mo-B catalyst

Hydrogen production performance and kinetic behavior from sodium borohydride hydrolysis with TiO2-supported Co-Mo-B catalyst

Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Supported over Graphene-like Material Composite as a Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution

The need for an alternative energy source that is both clean and abundant has led to research into a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen gas can be produced slowly via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). A catalyst can be used to speed up the rate at which hydrogen is produced, however many catalysts involve relatively expensive materials like precious metals. This study explores a novel copper nanoparticle supported on a graphene-like material composite as a catalyst for the hydrolysis of NaBH4. The material was characterized via powdered X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Energy Dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The P-XRD confirmed the crystallinity structures of graphene-like material (GLM) and copper nanoparticles supported over graphene-like material (CuGLM). The P-XRD spectra indicated the (110), (111), and (200) lattice planes of copper nanoparticles. In FTIR analysis, the shifted and sharpening functional group peaks were observed when copper nanoparticles were supported by the GLM template. The TEM result indicated that the copper nanoparticle had a size of approximately 10 nm. The catalyst (CuGLM) was tested under different doses of NaBH4, solution pH, and reaction temperatures. Temperature data were used to determine the activation energy of the reaction to be 46.8 kJ mol−1, which is competitive when compared to similar catalysts. The catalyzed reaction generated the highest volume of hydrogen at pH 8 (51 mL), 303 K (32 mL), and 1225 μmol of NaBH4 (37 mL). The catalyst was found to be able to be used multiple times in succession without any significant loss in hydrogen generated. This catalyst is an exciting option for the sustainable generation of hydrogen gas as a fuel source.

Gold Nanoparticles AuNP Decorated on Fused Graphene-like Materials for Application in a Hydrogen Generation.

The search for a sustainable, alternative fuel source to replace fossil fuels has led to an increased interest in hydrogen fuel. This combustible gas is not only clean-burning but can readily be produced via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The main drawback of this reaction is that the reaction occurs relatively slowly and requires a catalyst to improve efficiency. This study explored a novel composite material made by combining gold nanoparticles and fused graphene-like materials (AuFGLM) as a catalyst for generating hydrogen via sodium borohydride. The novel fused graphene-like material (FGLM) was made with a sustainable dextrose solution and by using a pressure-processing method. Imaging techniques showed that FGLM appears to be an effective support template for nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize and determine the size, shape, and structure of nanoparticles and composites. The TEM study characterized the fused carbon backbone as it began to take on a rounder shape. The TEM images also revealed that the average diameter of the gold nanoparticle was roughly 23 nm. The FTIR study confirmed O-H, C-C, and C=O as functional groups in the materials. The EDS analysis showed that the composite contained approximately 6.3% gold by weight. The crystal structures of FGLM and AuFGLM were identified via P-XRD analysis. Various reaction conditions were used to test the catalytic ability of AuFGLM, including various solution pHs, temperatures, and doses of NaBH4. It was observed that optimal reaction conditions included high temperature, an acidic solution pH, and a higher dose of NaBH4. The activation energy of the reaction was determined to be 45.5 kJ mol-1, and it was found that the catalyst could be used multiple times in a row with an increased volume of hydrogen produced in ensuing trials. The activation energy of this novel catalyst is competitive compared to similar catalysts and its ability to produce hydrogen over multiple uses makes the material an exciting choice for catalyzing the hydrolysis of NaBH4 for use as a hydrogen fuel source.

Sustainable Additives for the Production of Hydrogen via Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis

Finding stable solutions for hydrogen storage is one of the main challenges to boosting its deployment as an energy vector and contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector. In this context, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) has been largely studied as a hydrogen storage material due to its significant advantages, such as low pressure, stability, and high hydrogen storage density. The development of catalysts and additive materials for the on-demand hydrolysis of NaBH4 for hydrogen release is a key research area. This work studies the effects of non-toxic and environmentally friendly additives for the hydrolysis process in terms of yield, lag time, hydrogen generation rate, and gravimetric density. Specifically, four additives, including sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyacrylamide (PAM), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and β-cyclodextrin (BCD), were studied for their application in the storage and release of hydrogen. The best results were provided by the use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyacrylamide. In the first case, a hydrolysis yield of 85%, a lag time of 70 s, a hydrogen production rate of 1374 mL·min−1·gcat−1, and a storage capacity of 1.8 wt% were obtained. Using polyacrylamide as additive, a hydrolysis yield of almost 100% was achieved, although it required a significantly higher time period for complete conversion.

Covalent Organic Framework-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Supported Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles for Synergistic Boosting H2 Evolution from NaBH4

Developing nonprecious metal catalysts with fast charge transfer ability, abundant active sites, and easy recovery is of great significance toward sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis for hydrogen (H2) production in alkaline solutions. Herein, magnetically separated nitrogen-doped carbon-supported cobalt oxide (CoxOy@NC) nanoparticles were prepared successfully by converting pyrazine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Due to the porous structure and nitrogen-rich characteristics of the precursor, the prepared catalyst CoxOy@NC exhibited good conductivity and charge transfer ability. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped carbon matrix are bonded by the Co–N bond, which makes full use of the conductivity of the substrate and the high activity of the cobalt oxide catalyst. Therefore, CoxOy@NC exhibits an excellent synergistic effect between CoxOy and NC. The H2 generation rate reaches a maximum of 2082.13 mL/min/g from NaBH4 in alkaline solutions. In addition, CoxOy@NC also exhibits good magnetic separation capability, which greatly simplifies the catalyst separation process. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation results indicate that Co2+ is the dominant active component in the heterogeneous catalyst CoxOy@NC. This work broadens new horizons for the development of COFs derivative catalysts for hydrogen production from sodium borohydride hydrolysis.

Designing of Ag decorated ZnO catalyst for on-demand and sustainable H2 production at room temperature

Growing energy demand, expansion of population, and fast depletion of fossil fuels motivate the development of feasible and safe ways to store and supply sustainable energy. Hydrogen is regarded as a promising sustainable fuel for addressing global energy and environmental issues due to its high energy efficiency and negligible greenhouse gas emissions. However, hydrogen storage is considered as a stumbling block in the implementation of the hydrogen economy. In this regard, sodium borohydride (SB), a chemical metal hydride is one of the most auspicious material due to its high volumetric hydrogen density, low capital investment, and low potential risk. In the present investigation, Ag NPs decorated ZnO catalyst were prepared by a one-pot strategy in an ethylene glycol (EG) medium. All Ag-NPs decorated ZnO catalysts showed higher activity than pristine ZnO under dark conditions, whereas, flower-like Ag NPs decorated ZnO catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity for H2 generation from hydrolysis of SB. A maximum value of 123 mLg−1min-1 as the turnover frequency is obtained with 22 kJ mol−1 activation energy, which is comparable to well-known high-cost NPS like Pt, Pd, and Ru. The prepared sample exhibited good reusability and 100% conversion even after the 5th cycle.

Hydrogen generation by hydrolysis of solid sodium borohydride for portable PEMFC applications

In this paper, the hydrogen generation by the hydrolysis of solid sodium borohydride was studied. A novel NiCoP/RC catalyst that loads Ni, Co, and P complexes on resin carbon (RC) was prepared to accelerate the hydrolysis. The hydrogen generation rate, reaction temperature, hydrogen output and water-hydrogen ratio during the reaction were recorded. In comparison to the commonly used cobalt chloride catalyst, the NiCoP/RC catalyst demonstrated superior catalytic activity. Citric acid was used to neutralize the alkaline by-products, and while the mixture of NiCoP/RC catalyst and citric acid increased the hydrogen output, it resulted in lower water utilization rate. Therefore, intermittent water feeding from the bottom of the reactor was proposed, which was found to be beneficial in terms of both hydrogen output and water utilization. Finally, the study warns about the potential for thermal runaway during the hydrolysis reaction of solid sodium borohydride.

Co/Fe3O4@GO catalyst for one-step hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of NaBH4: Optimization and kinetic study

In this study, cobalt nanocatalysts supported on the Fe3O4@GO were synthesized for boosting hydrogen generation upon hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. Co/Fe3O4@GO catalysts were synthesized through a facile co-precipitation method followed by a chemical reduction step. The prepared samples were characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Nitrogen adsorption–desorption (BET). Benefiting from the high crystallinity, good dispersion of Co nanoparticles over the Fe3O4@GO, and the synergistic effect between Co nanoparticles and Fe3O4@GO support, Co/Fe3O4@GO catalysts with 30 wt% cobalt loading showed the highest catalytic activity with high hydrogen generation rate of 4000 mL/min.gcat and relatively good stability. To investigate the effect of the parameters on hydrogen generation rate and optimal reaction conditions, the Box-Behnken design under response surface methodology (RSM) was applied. ANOVA results denoted that the temperature with the highest F-value and lowest P-value had the most effect on the hydrogen generation rate. Under the optimum conditions including a temperature of 39.83 °C, 17.74 mg of catalyst, and 5.135 wt% NaBH4 concentration, Co(30%)/Fe3O4@GO exhibited a superior H2 generation rate of 6005 mL/min.gcat and low activation energy of 44.4 kJ/mol. Therefore, the Co/Fe3O4@GO is a promising catalyst for NaBH4 hydrolysis due to its easy preparation and separation method, high hydrogen generation rate, and low activation energy.

Pushing the limits of sodium borohydride hydrolysis for on-board hydrogen generation systems

Sodium borohydride (SBH) is a promising hydrogen (H2) carrier; however, its successful deployment has been limited to unmanned aerial vehicle applications. We reevaluated SBH hydrolysis for on-board vehicular applications from an entirely new perspective using solid-phase SBH hydrolysis with a CO2-derived acid at elevated temperatures and pressures, enabling extremely efficient water utilization. This strategy afforded a high H2 storage density of 6.33 wt%, which could be extended to 10.4 wt% via water recovery from fuel cells. High-purity H2 with carbon monoxide levels below 10 ppm was obtained after methanation. Importantly, an energy-efficient SBH regeneration method using residual NaHCO2 was developed. A 1.2-kWe-level SBH hydrogen generation was evaluated with the fuel-cell operation, and a 20-kWe-level compact system was developed with a system-based volumetric H2 storage density of 25 g-H2/L. This technology will accelerate SBH-based vehicular applications at a level of 50 g-H2/L.

Positive roles of microwave irradiation in hydrogen production from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride using iron oxide catalyst synthesized with watermelon seed peel extract by green method

This study reported the activities of WSP-FeO nanoparticles catalysts synthesized by the green synthesis method using watermelon seed peel (WSP) extract in sodium borohydride hydrolysis. The activities of the synthesized nanoparticles catalyst in the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride at different microwave irradiation, solution temperatures, catalyst amounts, NaBH4 concentrations, and sodium hydroxyl concentrations were evaluated. The hydrolysis kinetics of NaBH4 in the presence of WSP-FeO-NPs catalysts were determined according to the nth-order and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic models. The activation energies were calculated to be 18.98 kJ/mol and 18.96 kJ/mol, respectively. WSP-FeO nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, TEM, EDX, SEM, and XRD analysis to determine their structural and morphological properties. According to the XRD and TEM analysis results, the nanoparticles were very pure and well crystalline, with particle diameters between 8.9-18.5 nm and 6–12 nm.

M-BDC (M = Co and/ or Fe) MOFs as effective catalysts for hydrogen generation via hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

Mono- (Co-BDC, Fe-BDC) and bimetallic FeCo-BDC Metal-Organic Frameworks are successfully synthesized by the solvothermal method in DMF at 150 °C within 15 h and tested as catalysts for sodium borohydride hydrolysis. The materials are characterized by FTIR, PXRD, TGA, ICP-OES, H2-TPR, BET model, and SEM-EDS. The catalytic activity of these materials is studied for dehydrogenation of sodium borohydride in water at various temperatures under basic conditions. Among tested catalysts, the most promising is Co-BDC, which provides hydrogen generation with a good rate of 1886.8 mL min−1 gcat−1 at 319 K and high efficiency (77.7 %) in the presence of a base. The activation energy determined as 25.4 kJ mol−1 is lower than most cobalt-bearing catalysts for NaBH4 hydrolysis described in the literature. The catalyst can be reused at least ten times, keeping a good overall hydrogen generation yield, and thus can be considered a promising candidate for portable hydrogen fuel systems.