Hydrogen generation from NaBH 4 solution with the high-performance Co(0) catalyst using a cold plasma method

Abstract

The hydrogen production from the hydrolysis of NaBH4 with Co(0) catalyst, which is prepared with a cold plasma method under nitrogen atmosphere, was investigated with effects of NaBH4 and NaOH concentration, temperature, plasma applying time and applying power, and Co(0) catalyst effect. The hydrolysis reaction completed within around 10-min time intervals with cold plasma, while the hydrolysis reaction in the known method completed within around 20-min time intervals. The completion rate of hydrolysis reaction with Co(0) catalyst in cold plasma media compared to non-plasma media increased to be around 100%. The yield of hydrogen in the presence of 3.2, 10, and 25% NaBH4 solution takes the values of around 94, 90, and 15% at the end of 600 sec, respectively. The experimental data were fitted to first-order. The activation energy for first-order was found to be 26.02 kJ mol-1. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group,LLC.