Synergy of heteroatom doping and metal oxide loading: Banana peel carbon for efficient NaBH4 methanolysis

Abstract

In response to the growing demand for sustainable hydrogen, this study develops a cost-effective, biomass-derived hybrid catalyst for hydrogen production via NaBH4 methanolysis. Banana peel waste is converted into high-surface-area activated carbon (ACBP) through alkali activation. The ACBP is further co-doped with nitrogen and sulfur and functionalized with chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles, forming a Cr2O3@N,S-doped ACBP composite. Structural and surface analyses (XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, EDS) confirm successful heteroatom incorporation and uniform Cr2O3 dispersion. The catalyst exhibits a sixfold increase in hydrogen generation rate compared to undoped ACBP and a low activation energy of 27.46 kJ/mol, indicating favorable kinetics. The enhanced performance is attributed to synergistic effects of dual heteroatom doping, abundant active sites, and improved electron transfer. This work demonstrates a practical approach to convert agricultural waste into highperformance catalysts, offering an efficient and sustainable route for on-demand hydrogen generation.