Development of Al2O3-supported nanobimetallic Co-La-B catalyst for boosting hydrogen release via sodium borohydride hydrolysis

Abstract

This study introduces the novel Al₂O₃-supported nanobimetallic Co-La-B (Al₂O₃@Co-La-B) catalyst, specifically designed to enhance hydrogen production via sodium borohydride hydrolysis, marking its first application in hydrogen generation. Characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, the catalyst exhibits a porous, homogeneous cubic structure which significantly contributes to its high catalytic efficiency. It demonstrated remarkable hydrogen generation rates of up to 6057.72 mL_H2 min⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹ at 30 °C and maintained 91.63% catalytic activity over multiple cycles, with a notable increase to 8661.94 mL_H2 min⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹ at 60 °C. Kinetic studies, utilizing nth-order and Langmuir–Hinshelwood models, indicated activation energies of 51.38 kJ mol⁻¹ and 49.33 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, showcasing the catalyst's potential as a sustainable solution for hydrogen production in various industrial applications.