Hydrogen bubbles dynamic template preparation of a porous Fe–Co–B/Ni foam catalyst for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of alkaline sodium borohydride solution

By using a modified electroless plating method, a porous Fe–Co–B catalyst is prepared on Ni foam support in order to generate hydrogen from an alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solution. In this process, hydrogen bubbles originating from electroless deposition function as a dynamic template to form the porous catalyst. The effects of NaBH4, NaOH concentration and reaction temperature on the hydrolysis reaction kinetics are investigated. It has been found that an average hydrogen generation rate of 22 l min−1 g−1 (Fe–Co–B) is achieved in a 15 wt.% NaBH4 and 5 wt.% NaOH solution at 30 °C, and the apparent activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction is determined to be 27 kJ mol−1. The catalyst exhibits a high activity due to its porous structure, which facilitates the access of reactants to the surface active sites of catalyst.