Development of Supported Catalyst for Hydrogen Production From Sodium Borohydride

The best solution to the problems caused by fossil fuels and the limitations of renewable energy sources is the conversion of hydrogen into energy in fuel cells. The transportation and storage problems, which are the main obstacles to the conversion of hydrogen into energy in fuel cells, can be overcome by storing hydrogen in boron compounds. The recovery of hydrogen stored in boron compounds when needed is carried out through catalytic processes. In this study, a supported catalyst was synthesized for use in hydrogen production from sodium borohydride (SBH), which is one of the main boron compounds used in the solid storage of hydrogen, and the dehydrogenation parameters of the synthesized catalyst were investigated. In this context, chenopodium botrys plant extract was used as a support material for nickel (Ni) metal atoms. At the end of the extraction carried out through a hydrothermal process, Ni atoms were decorated using the impregnation method in the extract, and the Ni@KBHE catalyst was produced via reduction under SBH. After the washing, filtration, and drying processes were carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere, the solution medium, catalyst amount, SBH concentration, and temperature parameters of SBH hydrolysis with the crumbled catalyst were optimized. Optimum values for hydrogen production were obtained using 5% NaOH, 60 mg of catalyst, and 2% SBH. The hydrogen production rate (HGR) at these values was 4664 mL/g min. As a result of the catalytic reaction kinetic calculations, it was determined that the reaction was nth order, and the reaction activation energy was 49.4 kJ/mol.