NaBH4 Hydrolysis Research Articles

Zeolite-supported cobalt catalysts derived from natural diatomite with high catalytic activity for catalyzing NaBH4 hydrolysis

Zeolite-supported cobalt catalysts derived from natural diatomite with high catalytic activity for catalyzing NaBH4 hydrolysis

An infrared radiation-responsive high-entropy CoCaMgMnAlFe-LDHs for controllable hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis: Utilization of steel slag and lithium-ion battery liquid waste

Green processing of steel slag and lithium-ion battery liquid waste poses a global environmental challenge. This study utilizes waste acid (containing Co2+, H+ and NO3–) and alkali solutions (containing Li+, Na+, OH– and CO32–) from lithium-ion battery manufacturing to recover metal cations from steel slag (containing Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Fe3+, and Mn2+), preparing high-entropy CoCaMgMnAlFe-LDHs catalysts for controllable hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis. The ultimate residue, without any residual hazardous metal cations, enabling safe reintroduction into the natural environment. The presence of Co2+ endows the CoCaMgMnAlFe-LDHs catalyst with rapid photo-thermal conversion capability, enabling it to rapidly heat up under infrared radiation and efficiently catalyze the reaction of NaBH4 hydrolysis. The hydrogen generation rate reaches 1.12 mol·h−1·g−1·W−1 driven by 1050 nm infrared radiation. This study provides a novel approach to the environmentally friendly treatment and high-value utilization of steel slag and lithium-ion battery liquid waste.

Synthesis of Ecofriendly Bimetallic Pt/Ni Nanoparticles on KNbO3 via Hydrothermal Process for Sustainable Hydrogen Evolution from NaBH4

The performance of nickel and platinum bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) supported on potassium niobate (KNbO3) is evaluated in the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to generate hydrogen (H2). KNbO3 was synthesized via a hydrothermal route using Nb2O5 and KOH as precursors. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystalline orthorhombic structure of KNbO3. The Ni/Pt NPs, with an average size of 4.66 nm and a spherical morphology, were uniformly dispersed on the surface of KNbO3 nanosheets. The N2 physisorption isotherms of KNbO3 and Ni/Pt NPs were classified as type V with H3 hysteresis, showing specific surface areas of 0.170 and 2.87 m2 g−1, respectively. Catalytic performance studies examined various Ni/Pt molar ratios, with the 1:3 ratio (mol/mol) demonstrating the highest efficiency. Kinetic analysis of NaBH4 hydrolysis showed that the data fit the pseudo-first-order model. An increase in temperature enhanced the hydrogen generation rate (HGR), reaching 2068.3 mL gcat−1 min−1 at 315.05 K. The apparent activation energy (Ea) was determined to be 29.9 kJ mol−1. Durability assays showed only an 11% decrease in activity after 11 catalytic cycles. Thus, a promising, easy-to-synthesize, and environmentally friendly catalyst for NaBH4 hydrolysis has been developed.

Hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis over cobalt-modified niobium oxide catalysts

The increasing concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere, primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion, is a major contributor to global warming and one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. In response, the development of sustainable energy technologies, such as hydrogen (H₂) production, has become crucial in the global transition to a low-carbon economy. In this study, we explored the catalytic activity of cobalt-modified niobium-based catalysts for hydrogen generation through the hydrolysis of NaBH₄. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDX, and N₂ adsorption-desorption. XRD analysis revealed that the synthesized Nb₂O₅ (Nb₂O₅ Synt.) and Nb₂O₅/Co (Nb₂O₅/Co Synt.) exhibited amorphous structures, while the commercial Nb₂O₅ (Nb₂O₅ Com.) and its Co-modified composite displayed orthorhombic phases. The Nb₂O₅/Co Synt. catalyst achieved a surface area of 33.1 m2/g, significantly surpassing that of the commercial Nb₂O₅. The Nb₂O₅/Co Synt. catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity, yielding 250 mL of hydrogen in 60 min, in contrast to other catalysts that showed no activity under identical conditions. This enhanced activity was attributed to the presence of surface hydroxyl groups and metallic Co nanoparticles, following the Langmuir-Hinshelwood bimolecular mechanism. Temperature was identified as a critical factor in the H₂ production rate, with a calculated activation energy of 11.37 kJ/mol. Moreover, the Nb₂O₅/Co Synt. catalyst demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining stable performance after multiple reaction cycles, highlighting its potential for sustainable hydrogen production.

High-Efficiency and Fast Hydrogen Production from Sodium Borohydride: The Role of Adipic Acid in Hydrolysis, Methanolysis and Ethanolysis Reactions.

In this study, hydrogen production through the hydrolysis, ethanolysis, and methanolysis reactions of NaBH4 using adipic acid as a catalyst was investigated for the first time. Adipic acid solutions were prepared with methanol and ethanol at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 M. In these reactions, NaBH4-MR (methanolysis) and NaBH4-ER (ethanolysis) reactions were carried out at 30, 40, and 50 °C with NaBH4 concentrations of 1.25%, 2.5%, and 5%. Hydrolysis reactions (NaBH4-HR) were conducted at 0.1 M under the same conditions. In the ethanolysis and methanolysis reactions at 30 °C, total hydrogen conversion was achieved at 0.3 M, 0.4 M, and 0.5 M. However, in the hydrolysis reactions, total hydrogen production was only obtained at 50 °C. It was observed that in the NaBH4-MR and NaBH4-ER reactions, total hydrogen conversion could be achieved within 4-5 s. The utilization of adipic acid as a catalyst for hydrogen production from NaBH4 through ethanolysis and methanolysis reactions is proposed as a highly efficient and fast method, characterized by impressive conversion rates.

A durable cobalt catalyst supported on Ni foam coated with Al2O3 for hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis

A durable cobalt catalyst supported on Ni foam coated with Al2O3 (Co/Al2O3–Ni foam) is developed and analyzed using various analytical methods. In addition, the catalyst is tested to investigate the effects of the Al2O3 coating cycle, Co reduction cycle, and reaction temperature on hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis. The Al2O3 coating cycle considerably affects hydrogen generation and the catalyst area required for a hydrogen generation rate of 1 L/min. However, the Co reduction cycle and reaction temperature slightly affect hydrogen generation and the catalyst area required for a hydrogen generation rate of 1 L/min. The catalyst exhibits an apparent activation energy of 64.3 kJ/mol, which is relatively higher than those of the other catalysts. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits durability comparable to that of other catalysts. Thus, the Co/Al2O3–Ni foam catalyst with high apparent activation energy and comparable catalytic durability is suitable for the NaBH4 hydrogen generation system.

Biochar-Based Catalyst Derived from Corn Husk Waste for Efficient Hydrogen Generation via NaBH4 Hydrolysis

Biochar-Based Catalyst Derived from Corn Husk Waste for Efficient Hydrogen Generation via NaBH4 Hydrolysis

Eco‐Friendly Preparation of Pectin‐Stabilized Ruthenium Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation from Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis

AbstractIn this study, we report that pectin‐supported ruthenium nanoparticles (pectin@Ru0) can be easily prepared at room temperature by a simple and effective method and that they exhibit outstanding catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The structure, oxidation state, morphology, and thermal studies were analyzed using XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM and TGA analysis. The kinetic performance of pectin@Ru0 biocatalyst was evaluated depending on ruthenium loading, NaBH4 concentration, NaOH concentration, temperature, reusability and storage. The pectin@Ru0 biocatalyst containing 2 wt.% Ru0 metal catalyzed the hydrolysis of 50 mM NaBH4+1 wt.% NaOH with 100 % yield. The activation energy (Ea) and the TOF values of the reaction was estimated as 54.7 kJ mol−1 and 53.1 mol H2 (mol Ru0 min) −1 at 30 °C and this is consistent with other previously reported catalysts, making it a remarkable result in comparison. Reusability and catalytic life studies reported that pectin@Ru0 biocatalyst is also highly active and relatively long‐lived catalyst in the hydrolysis of NaBH4 in a slightly basic solution.

Sonochemical synthesis of mesoporous ZnyCd1-yS quantum dots: Composition-dependent optical, electrical, dielectric, and hydrogen-generation characteristics

Mesoporous ZnyCd1-yS quantum dots (QDs) with mixed cubic–hexagonal phases prepared by sonochemical technique at varying Zn content. Incorporating Zn ions in the CdS lattice reduced the crystalline size and enhanced the corresponding surface areas at increasing Zn contents. The increase of Zn content in ZnyCd1-yS QDs increased the bandgap from 2.52 eV to 3.83 eV and enhanced the corresponding Urbach energy from 72 meV to 279 meV. ZnyCd1-yS QDs exhibited small electrical activation energies ranging from 249 mV to 361 mV. The effect of Zn content on the catalytic activity of ZnyCd1-yS QDs toward hydrogen production through NaBH4 hydrolysis was investigated at different temperatures. Ternary alloys ZnCdS QDs exhibited higher catalytic activity than pure ZnS and CdS QDs, with Zn0.5Cd0.5S QDs displaying the highest hydrogen generation rate of 96 mL∙min−1∙g−1. The increase of reaction temperature from 30°C to 60°C enhanced the rate constant of hydrogen production from 0.071 to 0.36 min−1. Based on the pseudo-first-order equation, the estimated apparent activation energy of Zn0.5Cd0.5S QDs was 45.3 kJ∙mol−1. Overall, the obtained results underscored the potential of ZnyCd1-yS QDs as promising catalysts for hydrogen generation.

Magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles impregnated on Chlorella vulgaris microalgae: Its role in obtaining hydrogen from the sodium borohydride-hydrolysis

Recently, the single-celled green freshwater microalgae species “Chlorella vulgaris” has attracted the attention of researchers due to its different usage areas. In particular, research focuses on the technology of obtaining bio‑hydrogen with various techniques. This research involves, for the first time, the use of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris as a bio-supporting material for magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs@Chlorella vulgaris) and the production of hydrogen through catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH4 (sodium borohydride, SB) in the presence of the resulting magnetite nanoparticles. Here, detailed kinetic studies were carried out during the SB-hydrolysis by taking magnetite Fe3O4NPs@Chlorella vulgaris and SB in varying amounts and at varying temperatures, and the activation energy and lifetime of magnetite Fe3O4NPs@Chlorella vulgaris was found to be 23.49 kJ mol−1 and 93,280 mol H2 (mol Fe3O4)−1, respectively. No change in the chemical and physical structure of the biocatalyst was observed during the hydrolysis of SB, so only detailed characterization of microalgae and magnetite Fe3O4NPs@Chlorella vulgaris was performed, and the particle size of the catalyst was calculated as 10.19 ± 2.17 nm. The results showed that these Fe3O4NPs@Chlorella vulgaris, which can be easily separated magnetically and have high catalytic activity, are a “clean” and quite surprising catalyst in terms of hydrogen production.

Molecular dynamics approach to efficient hydrogen generation process of Co-B catalysts decorating lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd) supported by flat-sheet and twisted ThMoB4-type graphene from NaBH4 hydrolysis: Insights from non-self-consistent GFN1-xTB method

In this study, the promoter role on highly efficient hydrogen generation productivity and H2 formation mechanisms of Co-B-X catalysts modified by rare earths (X = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) supported by flat-sheet and twisted ThMoB4-type graphene from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis was investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) method based on non-self-consistent tight binding GFN1-xTB Method. The twisted ThMoB4-type graphene layer was constructed by adsorbing of ethylene carbonate (EC) molecule on armchair site of graphene surface with applying of geometric optimization process. The addition of Nd to CoB exhibited to higher H2 release compared to other CoB containing lanthanides (La, Ce and Pr) both flat-sheet and twisted ThMoB4-type graphene. While the number of H2 for Co-B-Nd is 14, the H2 amount is only 8 for Co-B-Ce supported flat-sheet graphene at the end of simulation time. Also, the placing of twisted graphene instead of flat-sheet in the catalytic complex led to about 36 % increase in H2 number for Co-B-Nd. The computational results revealed that the availability of the active sites, such as basicity of catalytic environment related to OH and H species and the mobility of Co atom, played an important role for catalytic activity and performance for H2 production. This work can provide new insight for experimental studies of Co-B-X (X = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) catalysts for hydrogen production in atomic-level and the creation of new hydrogen energy applications and facilitates for H2 generation efficiency.

Enhanced stability in Co0.8Ni0.2/NDMCS catalysts: Carbon nitride encapsulation for robust hydrogen generation

Catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH4 is a promising method for "on-demand" hydrogen generation, with cobalt catalysts playing a key role due to their high hydrogen generation rates. However, rapid cobalt dissolution and poor recycling hinder stable hydrogen production. This study presents a dual-mode stabilization technique using carbon nitride encapsulation to address these challenges. Co0.8Ni0.2 alloy nanoparticles (NPs) are confined within N-doped mesoporous carbon spheres (NDMCS) and encapsulated with a carbon nitride shell (∼ 5 nm thick). XPS results reveal strong non-classical metal-support interaction, increasing activation energy from 38.82 to 44.6 kJ mol−1, which controls cobalt's reactivity, leading to excellent recycling efficiency (90 % retention of initial rate, no change in particle size) in high-concentration reactants (2 %NaBH4 + 2 %NaOH). The retention rate drops to 26.8 % without this stabilization due to rapid metal dissolution. This stability of Co0.8Ni0.2 alloy in alkaline conditions has significant practical implications for hydrogen generation and other electrochemical applications.

Ruthenium nanoparticle immobilised on ionic liquid polymer as efficient catalyst for the hydrolysis of NaBH4

Development of heterogeneous catalyst is significant key for achieving high performance of NaBH4 hydrolysis to produce hydrogen. The stability of sodium borohydride in the presence of suitable catalyst is the efficient method to generate hydrogen. In this work, styrene-imid PIILP, polymer 1 decorated styrene, imidazolium ionic liquid, and cross-coupling is successfully synthesised by AIBN initiated radical polymerisation, then precipitation with 3,3′,3″phosphinetriyltribenzene sulfonate with ratio (1:0.3) to isolate the first styrene-imid- sulphonated PIILP, polymer 2. RuNP@styrene-imid-sulphonated PIILP, RuNPs catalyst 3 was synthesised by impregnation with RuCl3, then reduction by NaBH4. Moreover, several analytical techniques such as, 31P, 1H, 13C solid-state NMR, CHN, IR, XPS, TEM, TGA-DTA, and SEM were examined to explore the obtained catalyst 3. The hydrogen generation from NaBH4 utilizing catalyst 3 was exhibited the catalytic behaviour studying several parameters such as, temperature, catalytic loading, and NaBH4 concentrations this work was deducted the activation energy (30.32 kJmol-1), and the turnover frequency (TOF) reached up 134.9, 112.77, and 98.38 moleH2.molcat−1.min−1 at 40, 35 and 30 °C. The effectiveness of Ruthenium nanoparticle catalyst 3 for the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 was examined in H2O and D2O resulting kinetic isotope effect (KIE) kH/kD = 3. In addition, RuNPs demonstrated a promising efficient for reuse catalyst 3 after five cycles for the catalytic hydrolysis.

Effective hydrogen production and coupling degradation of organics (4-nitrophenol, methylene blue, and Rhodamine B) in wastewater by electrospun PAN@Fe0 composite nanofibers

The pursuit of clean energy generation and environmental preservation is of utmost importance for societal progress. However, couple clean energy production and pollution control is still a difficulty. In this study, a novel electrospun composite mat, with nano zero valent iron (Fe0, nZVI) encapsulated into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers was acted as a catalyst. The activation energy (Ea) for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 to produce hydrogen is 22 kJ·mol−1, hydrogen atom utilization efficiency (HGE) of NaBH4 is 60.80%. Three kinds of organic dyes 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methylene blue (MB), and Rhodamine B (RhB) were served as the model pollutant, to construct NaBH4-organic system for energy production and pollution reduction. The NaBH4-organic system demonstrates a collaborative capability to simultaneously remove organic pollutants and generate hydrogen, with a coupling equilibrium point between the two processes. The hydrogen generation rate (HGR) and HGE increased with the concentration of pollutants increased. The degradation of 4-NP, MB, and RhB followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with RhB degrading dosage 20 and 44 times higher than 4-NP and MB, respectively. H2 and H· contributed to the organic degradation. nZVI directly participated in the formation H2 and H·. PAN@Fe0 possessed good recyclability and moderate cost. The degradation process adhered to the classical surface reaction controlled Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. The integration of synergistic production capacity and pollutant degradation aligns well with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable development. This study demonstrates a novel approach to no precursor loss catalysts preparation, efficient production clean H2, advanced treatment of dye-containing wastewater, carbon neutral operation of sewage treatment plant.

Enhancing the activity of Ni-B catalyst via Cu doping towards hydrogen evolution from NaBH4 hydrolysis

Developing efficient, economical, and eco-friendly catalysts for hydrogen release from hydrogen storage materials such as sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is recognized as an ideal solution to meet the growing demand for clean energy. In the present study the Ni-Cux-B alloy catalysts with different Cu doping content on the corncob (CC) substrate via a facile electroless plating method for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 were synthesized. The structural and morphological characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were investigated using various analytical techniques. The results showed that an appropriate Cu content has a remarkable excitation effect on the catalytic activity of Ni-B. The Cu doping strategy effectively changes the dispersion of metal species and provides more catalytic active sites on the surface of the catalyst. Moreover, the synergistic effect between metals after Cu doping enhances electron transfer and facilitates the adsorption and activation of BH4 and H2O molecules, thereby promoting hydrogen production activity. The optimized Ni-Cu7.2-B catalyst achieved a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 1321.56 mL min−1 g−1 in alkaline NaBH4 solution at 303 K, with an activation energy (Ea) of 46.26 kJ mol⁻1. The Ni-Cu7.2-B catalyst exhibits satisfactory stability, retaining 90.8 % of its initial catalytic activity after five cycles.

Engineering of the ferrite-based support for enhanced performance of supported Pt, Pd, Ru, and Rh catalysts in hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis

A series of M/NiCo-Ferrite (M: Pt, Pd, Ru, and Rh) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, through a facile sol–gel auto-combustion followed by impregnation-reduction approach, as a catalyst for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of NaBH4. All synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption method, ICP-OES, FE-SEM, and EDX analysis. Compared to the other samples, it was observed that the Rh/NiCo-Ferrite sample exhibited higher particle distribution and surface area. To evaluate the hydrogen generation rate, the hydrolysis was carried out at a temperature of 35 °C, with an aqueous solution containing 5 wt.% NaBH4 and 3 wt.% NaOH. The experimental findings indicate that the Rh/NiCo-Ferrite sample exhibited a superior rate of hydrogen generation, with an average value of 11,667 mL/min.gcat, compared to the other samples studied. Enhanced catalytic properties may be responsible for its high activity. In addition, the activation energy of hydrolysis of sodium borohydride over the Rh/NiCo-Ferrite sample was 54.5 kJ/mol which is lower than the activation energy of many Ferrite-based catalysts. Moreover, the re-usability test of the Rh/NiCo-Ferrite sample denoted a decline in the catalytic activity after 4 recycling experiments due to the alterations in morphology and the reduction in the quantity of active phase.

The Dependence of NiMo/Cu Catalyst Composition on Its Catalytic Activity in Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis Reactions.

The production of high-purity hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials with further direct use of generated hydrogen in fuel cells is still a relevant research field. For this purpose, nickel-molybdenum-plated copper catalysts (NiMo/Cu), comprising between 1 and 20 wt.% molybdenum, as catalytic materials for hydrogen generation, were prepared using a low-cost, straightforward electroless metal deposition method by using citrate plating baths containing Ni2+-Mo6+ ions as a metal source and morpholine borane as a reducing agent. The catalytic activity of the prepared NiMo/Cu catalysts toward alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis increased with the increase in the content of molybdenum present in the catalysts. The hydrogen generation rate of 6.48 L min-1 gcat-1 was achieved by employing NiMo/Cu comprising 20 wt.% at a temperature of 343 K and a calculated activation energy of 60.49 kJ mol-1 with remarkable stability, retaining 94% of its initial catalytic activity for NaBH4 hydrolysis following the completion of the fifth cycle. The synergetic effect between nickel and molybdenum, in addition to the formation of solid-state solutions between metals, promoted the hydrogen generation reaction.

CoMo/g-C3N4 as a highly effective, reusable, non-noble metal-based catalyst for H2 production via NaBH4 hydrolysis focused on stationary application under mild conditions: A kinetic study

Among hydrogen storage chemicals for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), sodium borohydride stands out for yielding exceptionally pure hydrogen. This study synthesized cobalt-molybdenum catalysts supported on g-C3N4 using an ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method. Various CoMo/g-C3N4 catalysts with different CoMo mass ratios were created, all showing high hydrogen production and complete NaBH4 conversion under mild conditions. Catalytic activity depends on the cobalt-molybdenum mass ratio, with optimal performance at a 1:1 ratio (w/w), maintaining up to 83% activity over 5 cycles. The effect of operating conditions on hydrogen release was explored, resulting in the rate law: rH2 = 1.708 × 10-3 [NaBH4]1.25 [Catalyst dosage]1.39 [NaOH]0.44 at 298 K, with a low activation energy of 22.9 kJ mol−1. Molybdenum's promoting effect prevented significant deactivation of the cobalt catalyst, ensuring complete NaBH4 conversion to H2 and good stability over multiple cycles.

Design a well-dispersed Ag-based/CoFe2O4–CNT catalyst for hydrogen production via NaBH4 hydrolysis

Green hydrogen is a crucial element in the hydrogen value chain, encompassing hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and application. The production of green hydrogen via NaBH4 hydrolysis (SBH) entails a high cost. However, the fast kinetics of this process with a catalyst compensate for the substantial cost, especially in specific applications, such as local or intermittent use. Silver is known for its excellent catalytic properties. Its high catalytic activity is a key factor in achieving efficient hydrogen generation from (SBH). In this study, a nanocomposite catalyst composed of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), CoFe2O4, and carbon nanotubes (CNT) was investigated to demonstrate an effective catalyst design approach to achieve enhanced hydrogen generation performance. The H2 production rate in the presence of Ag-based/CoFe2O4–CNT was 320 mL min−1 g−1, and the apparent activation energy was 14.7 kJ mol−1, superior to that of Ag-based catalysts reported in the literature. Analyses of the observed outcomes revealed that the CNT was decorated with well-dispersed AgNPs and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The synergistic effects of AgNPs, CoFe2O4, and CNT were demonstrated by analyzing the kinetic behaviour of each component based on systematic comparisons. Furthermore, the paramagnetic property of CoFe2O4 enables harvesting of the catalyst using an external magnetic field, and it was verified that the reactivity of the collected catalyst was maintained throughout seven successive cycles. The outstanding catalytic performance of Ag/CoFe2O4–CNT should be attributed to the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on the CNT surface. Furthermore, our key approach for developing efficient Ag-based carbon advanced catalysts for SBH in the future is to ensure their suitability for industrial applications.

Hydrogen generation from NaBH4 solution using Co–Fe–B@ZnO/Ni foam prepared by chemical deposition

In this work, double-supported Co–Fe–B@ZnO/Ni foam is fabricated by chemical deposition. Under light irradiation, the rate of hydrogen production is 8291 mL min−1 g−1 at 298 K and 12533 mL min−1 g−1 at 303 K, and the apparent activation energy is 49.0 kJ mol−1 toward NaBH4 hydrolysis, which manifests that the catalytic effect has obviously strengthened when compared with the vast majority of reported catalysts. Moreover, the catalyst shows good cyclic stability with attenuation of 0.05 % after 5 cycles, revealing double-supported strategy is effective to synthesize high-activity catalyst materials for NaBH4 hydrolysis.