Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Cobalt-Doped Copper-Iron Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Gas Generation by Catalytic Hydrolysis of NaBH4

The growing demand for sustainable energy has increased interest in hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Among the various hydrogen generation methods, the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) is promising due to its high hydrogen yield and mild conditions. In this study, cobalt-doped copper-iron nanoparticles (Co@Cu-Fe NPs) were synthesized via a wet impregnation method and utilized as catalysts for NaBH₄ hydrolysis. The structural and physicochemical characterizations were performed using SEM, EDX, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, VSM, TGA, and BET. Under optimized conditions (8 wt% Co, 2.1 M NaBH₄, 0.025 g catalyst, 25 °C), a high hydrogen generation rate of 1033 mL/min·g_cat was achieved. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses showed a 1.17th-order reaction with an activation energy of 59.75 kJ/mol. The mechanism followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, involving stepwise hydroxyl substitution of BH₄⁻. Co@Cu-Fe NPs exhibited competitive performance and magnetic recyclability, making them efficient and cost-effective catalysts for hydrogen production.

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