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

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 cyclability. This work provides a new method for synthesizing composite-structured catalysts, exhibiting considerable potential in the hydrolysis of NaBH4. (c) 2022 Elsevier hydrolysis cycles. The magnetic nature of the catalyst improved its reB.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized a carbon nanofiber-supported NiCo2O4 and CoB composite catalyst, which exhibited high hydrogen production rate and durability in NaBH4 hydrolysis.