Platinum Nanoparticles Decorated on NaNbO ₃ and LiNbO ₃ as Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Generation via NaBH ₄ Hydrolysis

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Alkali-metal niobates MNbO 3 (M = Na, Li) decorated with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) are innovatively utilized as catalytic supports for hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution from sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ). Notably, a direct comparison between sodium niobate (NaNbO 3 ) and lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) in their efficiency for H 2 evolution from NaBH 4 was conducted for the first time, highlighting the distinct catalytic performance of these materials. The synthesis was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The deposited Pt nanoparticles remain below 10 nm. In this study, different transition-metal nanoparticles (M = Co, Ni, Pd, Pt) supported on NaNbO 3 and LiNbO 3 were evaluated as catalysts. The Pt NPs/NaNbO 3 and Pt NPs/LiNbO 3 catalysts demonstrated optimized performance, producing H 2 at similar rates of 2044.9 and 2303.7 mL min –1 g cat –1 at 293.15 K. Arrhenius plots indicate activation energies ( E a ) of 35.54 ± 1.32 kJ mol –1 for Pt NPs/NaNbO 3 and 35.04 ± 1.32 kJ·mol –1 for Pt NPs/LiNbO 3 . Additionally, the materials exhibited consistent stability, with an efficiency loss of less than 20% after the 10th cycle of use. These results underscore the potential of these catalysts for H 2 generation applications.