Hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride with Ni (0) catalyst in dielectric barrier discharge method

Abstract

In this study, the hydrogen production from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of the catalytic properties of Ni(0), which is reduced from NiCl2.6H2O, was investigated with a dielectric barrier discharge plasma method. The hydrogen production from NaBH4 hydrolysis with Ni(0) catalyst prepared in dielectric barrier discharge plasma media created by applying a certain amount of voltages (3–5 kV) and plasma applying times (5–15 min) was investigated depending on NaBH4 concentration (3.2–10%) in solutions, NaOH concentration (1.5–10%) in solutions, catalyst amount (5–20 mg), and temperature (20–60°C). Hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 with Ni(0) prepared in the presence of dielectric barrier discharge plasma is completed in 45-min time intervals with fast hydrogen generation while the Ni(0) produced in a known method led to a slow hydrogen release and hydrolysis is completed in 70-min time intervals. The hydrogen yield of 3.2, 5, and 10% NaBH4 solution with Ni(0) catalyst prepared in the presence of dielectric barrier discharge plasma takes the values of 95.06, 57.42, and 31.78% at the end of 45 min, respectively. The experimental data were fitted to first-order. The activation energy for first-order was found to be 41.76 kJ mol-1.