Performance evaluation of hydrogen generation system with electroless-deposited Co–P/Ni foam catalyst for NaBH4 hydrolysis

• Co–P/Ni foam catalyst has strong durability but slow response characteristics.
• Co/Al2O3 catalysts have fast response characteristics but weak durability.
• A hydrogen generator with two catalysts solves the problems of each catalyst.
• NaOH has a larger effect on hydrogen generation properties than does NaBH4.
• The hydrogen generation system is suitable as a hydrogen supplier for PEMFCs.

In this work, the performance of a hydrogen generation system with an electroless-deposited Co–P/Ni foam catalyst for NaBH4 hydrolysis was evaluated. The performance of a hydrogen generator using a combination of Co/γ-Al2O3 and Co–P/Ni foam catalysts was also evaluated in order to address the shortcomings with the individual catalysts. The generator had high conversion efficiency, fast response characteristics, and strong catalyst durability. Hydrogen generation tests were performed to investigate the effect of the composition of the NaBH4 solution on the hydrogen generation properties. The generator's conversion efficiency decreased with an increase in the amount of solute dissolved in NaBH4 solution because of the accumulation of precipitates on the catalyst, and NaOH concentration had a greater effect on the hydrogen generation properties than did NaBH4 concentration. According to these results, the hydrogen generation system with the Co–P/Ni foam catalyst is suitable as a hydrogen supplier for proton exchange membrane fuel cells owing to the strong durability and inexpensive cost of the catalyst.