Cobalt Nanoparticles Supported Active Carbon from Chitosan Biopolymer Using Thermal Method: Synthesis, Characterization, and Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Activated carbon based Cobalt nanoparticles (Co@AC NPs), considered in the context of hydrogen energy, which is a renewable and sustainable energy, were synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and their catalytic activities were tested. For this, hydrogen production tests were carried out with the help of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) methanolysis of Co@AC NPs synthesized by the thermal method. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transmission spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization tests were performed. According to the TEM characterization result, it has been observed that the NPs have a spherical shape and an average size of 2.52 ± 0.92 nm. Then, using the catalytic studies, it was observed that hydrogen production’s reusability is found to be 86% . The activation energy (Ea), enthalpy (∆H), and entropy (∆S) values were found to be 20.28 kJ⋅mol⁻¹, 17.74 kJ⋅mol⁻¹, and −125.97 J⋅mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. The obtained values have yielded excellent results and guide future sustainable and renewable hydrogen energy studies by reducing costs, ensuring environmental sustainability by avoiding the formation of undesirable by-products, and producing hydrogen from NaBH₄ through its high catalytic properties.