Co-P nanopartides supported on dandelion-like CNTs-Ni foam composite carrier as a novel catalyst for hydrogen generation from NaBH4 methanolysis

We used the chemical vapor deposition method to prepare dandelion-like CNTs-Ni foam composite carrier, and then the electroless plating method was used to deposit Co-P nanoparticles on the CNTs of the CNTs-Ni foam. The CNTs-Ni foam and Co-P/CNTs-Ni foam were characterized by BET, SEM, XRD, XPS, and EDS. The results showed that CNTs were uniformly and densely grown in situ on the surface of Ni foam and were further successfully coated with Co-P nanoparticles. The Co-P/CNTs-Ni foam catalysts still maintained the dandelion-like structure and reached a maximum hydrogen production rate of 2430 mL min(-1) g(-1) at 25 degrees C. Furthermore, the Co-P/CNTs-Ni foam catalysts also exhibit a remarkable cycling performance and low activation energy (49.94 kJ mol(-1)) for the methanolysis of sodium borohydride. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.