Hydrogen storage systems based on solid-state NaBH4/CoxB composite: Influence of catalyst properties on hydrogen generation rate

•H2 generation from solid-state NaBH4 pellets with cobalt catalysts has been studied.•Nature of reducing agent and catalyst precursor have influence on H2 generation rate.•Effect of pH on activity of catalyst added to NaBH4 pellets has been observed.

Hydrogen generation from solid-state pellets of sodium borohydride with cobalt boride catalysts has been studied. The nature of the reducing agent (NaBH4, NH3BH3) and the catalyst precursor (CoCl2·6H2O, Co3O4) was shown to have a substantial influence on the rate of hydrogen evolution. The effect of pH on the activity of the catalysts added to the solid-state pellets of sodium borohydride was estimated. It was found that the cobalt catalysts formed under the action of sodium borohydride undergo strong changes in an alkali medium due to boron leaching from cobalt boride and formation of low active Co0 and Co(OH)2.

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