Hydrogen generation by sodium borohydride hydrolysis on nanosized CoB catalysts supported on TiO2, Al2O3 and CeO2

A series of nanosized CoB catalysts supported on TiO2, Al2O3, and CeO2 were prepared. The catalysts were prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation. The sample was dried at 100 °C and then dispersed in water and reduced by an aqueous solution of sodium borohydrate at room temperature. An unsupported CoB cluster was used for comparison. The activities of the supported CoB catalysts were higher than that of unsupported one. The reaction rates of these supported CoB catalysts decreased in the order: CoB/TiO2 > CoB/Al2O3 > CoB/CeO2 > unsupported CoB. The reaction kinetics on various catalysts was also investigated.

► A new method to prepare supported CoB catalysts was developed. The supported CoB catalysts were much stable than unsupported CoB catalyst. CoB was also in amorphous state and highly dispersed on the support.
► The supported CoB catalysts were much more active than the unsupported CoB for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride solution at pH 13.
► The reaction rates of these supported CoB catalysts were CoB/TiO2 > CoB/Al2O3 > CoB/CeO2 >> unsupported CoB.