Hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis catalyzed by nanoporous Co100−xNix (x = 1, 5, 10 and 15) solid solutions

Abstract

Nanoporous Co_100-xNi_x (x = 1, 5, 10 and 15) solid solutions were synthesized using the chemical coprecipitation followed by hydrogen reduction method and applied as catalysts for the efficient hydrogen generation from NaBH₄ hydrolysis. The obtained catalysts are composed of hcp- and fcc-(Co,Ni) solid solutions phases, and exhibit the special three-dimensional nanoporous structure. With increasing the Ni content, the hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of NaBH₄ hydrolysis catalyzed by Co_100-xNi_x solid solutions decreased slightly, whereas the cycling stability of the catalyst can be improved. The HGR remains as much as 73% of the initial value after five times of catalysis for Co₈₅Ni₁₅. This work contributes to the development of advanced non-noble metal-based catalysts for efficient and long-term hydrogen generation from NaBH₄ hydrolysis.