Reaction mechanisms of the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride: A discussion focusing on cobalt-based catalysts

In the field of hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, most of the works deal with metal-based catalysis and catalytic performance. Knowledge of reaction mechanisms, especially when a cobalt-based catalyst is used, is limited. This review has therefore two objectives. It aims at surveying the reaction paths and the related kinetic models proposed hitherto, and at discussing the mechanisms that could take place on Co@B alpha O beta(OH)(gamma), an original catalytic phase with a core@shell-type structure. It stands out that the nature of the catalytic surface of cobalt is not well known and that a sophisticated kinetic model is necessary to efficiently predict the reaction mechanisms. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Academie des sciences.