Catalytic performance of Pd-doped polymer-nanoparticle hybrid materials for hydrogen generation through NaBH4 hydrolysis

Creating an effective catalyst with low cost and excellent catalytic efficiency in NaBH₄ hydrolysis for H₂ generation will have a huge impact on the field of renewable energy. For this reason, a polymer-supported catalyst was synthesized and characterized for hydrogen generation by NaBH₄ hydrolysis. For catalyst synthesis, firstly the clay (K) was given magnetic properties (Fe₃O₄@K.) Then, Fe₃O₄@K is functionalized with tannic acid (pTA@Fe₃O₄@K). Finally, the palladium (Pd)-doped catalyst was obtained (Pd@pTA@Fe₃O₄@K). The study aimed to use a time-efficient Central Composite Design (CCD) from response surface methodology (RSM) to correlate relationships between the hydrogen generation rate (HGR) and the operating parameters. Under optimum conditions (NaBH₄ amount: 3.6 wt%, NaOH amount:2.77 wt%, catalyst amount: 3.29 mg/mL, and Pd loading amount:6.05 wt%), the maximum HGR value was calculated as 5891.34 mL H₂/(gcat. min.). Thus, the excellently performing Pd@pTA@Fe₃O₄@K composite catalyst has significant potential for use in NaBH₄ hydrolysis.