Hydrogen production through the cooperation of a catalyst synthesized in ethanol medium and the effect of the plasma

In the present study, nanostructured Ni-B catalysts were successfully prepared in ethanol medium using the chemical reduction method for hydrogen production from the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). Ni-B nanostructures were characterized by several analysis methods including XRD, SEM/EDS, FT-IR and BET. The effects of factors such as solution temperature, NaBH₄ loadings, catalyst amount and NaOH concentration on the performance of these catalysts in the production of hydrogen from alkaline NaBH₄ solutions were investigated in detail. In addition, the Ni-B catalyst prepared in ethanol medium and subjected to plasma for the hydrogen production from the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH₄ was investigated. The Ni-B catalyst prepared in ethanol medium showed maximum hydrogen production rate (1000 mL min⁻¹gcatalyst⁻¹) which was approximately 2 times higher than the rate obtained from the Ni-B catalyst prepared in water (400 mL min⁻¹gcatalyst⁻¹) and acethone (550 mL min⁻¹gcatalyst⁻¹). The Ni-B nanoparticles showed the best catalytic activity at 333 K with a maximum hydrogen production rate of 7134 mL min⁻¹gcatalyst⁻¹ and activation energy of 46.83 kJmol⁻¹ for the NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction in the Ni-B catalysts prepared in ethanol and subjected to plasma. As the Ni-B catalyst is inexpensive and easy to prepare, it is feasible to use this catalyst in the construction of practical fuel cells for portable and in situ applications.