Fe–B catalyst fabricated by hybrid capacitive adsorption–chemical reduction method and its application for hydrogen production from NaBH4 solution

•A structure Fe–B/C cloth catalyst is prepared by capacitive deionization method.•The applied voltage of 1.1 V shows more H2 generation rate.•There are differences in Fe3+ and Fe2+ absorption on electrodes.•H2 generation can achieve 813 mL min−1 g−1 catalyst.•Optimization of NaBH4 flow rate is 5 mL min−1.

Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of sodium hydroxide as a stabilizer was a hydrogen generation source with high hydrogen storage efficiency and stability. The catalyst has a key role in H2 generation reaction from NaBH4. We reported that a structured Fe–B catalyst prepared by capacitive adsorption of Fe ions followed by alkaline chemical reduction step. A porous carbon clothes could hold Fe ions with capacitive current and it was reduced by NaBH4 hydrolysis. The loading amount and the density of Fe–B electrodes were strongly dependent of the experiment conditions of an applied potential at the first step and the reduction time at the second step. We observed that Fe–B showed a stable hydrogen production from NaBH4 without fast degradation phenomena; even if the production rate was slower than that using Co–B or Ni–B. In addition, H2 generation rate using Fe–B/C cloth electrode can achieve 813 mL min−1 g−1 catalyst at room temperature.

Graphical abstractA structured Fe–B catalyst was prepared by capacitive adsorption of Fe ions followed by alkaline chemical reduction step. A porous carbon clothes could hold Fe ions with capacitive current and it was reduced by NaBH4 hydrolysis. Fe–B showed distinct and stable hydrogen production efficiency of 813 mL min−1 g−1 catalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (202 K)Download as PowerPoint slide