Radiation synthesis of hydrogels as carriers for catalytic nanoparticles and their use in hydrogen production from sodium borohydride

The preparation of various metal nanoparticles inside 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid (HEMA/MAA) hydrogel and their use as a nanocomposite catalyst system in hydrogen generation was investigated. The experimental parameters that affect the hydrolysis reaction were evaluated. The catalytic activity of the metal nanoparticles inside the hydrogel matrix was found to be Ni < Cu:Ni (1:1) < Cu. Moreover, the HEMA/MAA-Cu hydrogel nanocomposite was used as a soft reactor for the generation of hydrogen. Its activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy were found to be 37.07 kJ mol(-1), 34.35 kJ mol(-1), and -117.46 J mol(-l) K-1, respectively.