The effect of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasmas on the electrochemical activity of Co–Cr–B based catalysts

• The catalytic activity of Co–Cr–B catalyst is enhanced by DBD cold plasma.
• Hydrolysis with plasma produced catalyst was completed 4 times shorter than with non-plasma.
• Surface of Co–Cr–B catalyst was quite affected by DBD cold plasma.
• Activation energy of reaction was significantly decreased by plasma produced catalyst.

In this study, the effect of Alternating Current and Direct Current Dielectric Barrier Discharge cold plasmas on the catalytic activity of Co–Cr–B based catalysts reduced from CoCl2·6H2O + Cr(NO3)3·9H2O is investigated. The catalytic properties of Co–Cr–B catalysts utilized in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of NaBH4 are examined in the plasma mediums depending on various voltages applied to plasmas. The catalysts are produced by AC plasma and DC plasma methods separately. In the presence of plasma-produced catalyst, the hydrolysis reactions complete within shorter time intervals than in the presence of non-plasma produced catalysts. The best chosen AC plasma-produced Co–Cr–B catalyst completes the hydrolysis reactions in 5 min; while the non-plasma produced catalyst completes the same reactions in 20 min. The hydrolysis reaction of sodium borohydride with Co–Cr–B catalyst produced in AC plasma media is controlled by zero order reaction whereas the same reaction is controlled by first order reaction in the presence of CO–Cr–B catalyst produced in DC plasma medium. The activation energy carried out in the presence of Co–Cr–B catalyst produced in AC plasma and DC plasma mediums was found as 16.17 kJ·mol−1 and 18 kJ·mol−1, respectively.

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