Investigation on the effect of graphite support on the efficiency of cobalt nickel boride catalyst in hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

Abstract

This study investigates the role of graphite as a support material in enhancing the catalytic activity of cobalt nickel boride (Co-Ni-B) for hydrogen generation via sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) hydrolysis. The graphite content was systematically varied to optimize catalytic performance, with structural and morphological analyses conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Catalytic activity was evaluated via the water displacement method, revealing that a 20 wt% graphite loading increased hydrogen production efficiency by approximately 30% compared to the unsupported catalyst. Furthermore, synthesizing the graphite-supported Co-Ni-B catalyst at 0 °C further boosted its activity. The catalyst also exhibited exceptional stability, retaining 92% of its initial activity after 5 reuse cycles, demonstrating its potential for sustainable and efficient hydrogen generation applications.