Synthesis of “needle-cluster” NiCo2O4 carbon nanofibers and loading of Co-B nanoparticles for hydrogen production through the hydrolysis of NaBH4

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 911; p. 165069
• Main Authors: Yang, Feiyan, Zou, Yongjin, Xiang, Cuili, Xu, Fen, Sun, Lixian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.08.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Carbon fibers; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB; Cyclic stability; Durability; Electron microscopy; Hydrogen; Hydrogen generation rate; Hydrogen production; Hydrolysis; Microscopy; NaBH4 hydrolysis; Nanofibers; Nanoparticles; Nickel compounds; Photoelectrons; Recyclability; Cyclic stability; Hydrogen generation rate; NaBH4 hydrolysis; CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165069

Hydrogen production through chemical processes has received considerable attention. Replacing precious-metal-based catalysts in NaBH4 hydrolysis entails challenges such as the low durability and efficiency of non-precious metals. Here, carbon nanofiber (CNF)-supported NiCo2O4 and CoB were synthesized to form a burr-shaped rod-like catalyst (CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB). The morphology and microstructure of the catalyst were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller adsorption analysis. Then, NaBH4 hydrolysis was catalyzed using CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB. At 303 K, the hydrogen production rate and activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction were 5225 mL min−1 g−1 and 38.32 kJ mol−1, respectively. The maximum hydrogen production rate achieved using this composite catalyst was significantly higher than that of a pure CoB catalyst. The composite catalyst also exhibited high durability, maintaining 82.5% of its initial catalytic activity even after nine hydrolysis cycles. The magnetic nature of the catalyst improved its recyclability. This work provides a new method for synthesizing composite-structured catalysts, exhibiting considerable potential in the hydrolysis of NaBH4. •Novel method for synthesis of a composite catalyst, CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB, is proposed.•Proposed catalyst achieves significantly higher hydrogen production rate than CoB.•Lowest activation energy of 38.32 kJ mol−1 is achieved.•CNF-NiCo2O4-CoB entails high durability, simple synthesis, and easy application.