Synergistic effect of NbBi alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes as catalysts for sodium borohydride methanolysis

Abstract

In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported metal (Nb and Bi) alloys were prepared by the chemical reduction method for hydrogen production from the methanolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Physical characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and elemental mapping are used to investigate the structural and morphological properties of the catalysts. The catalytic performance of Nb/CNT, Bi/CNT, and NbBi/CNT catalysts with different atomic ratios was investigated for the methanolysis of NaBH4. Nb50Bi50/CNT catalyst (8826.6 mL/min.gcat) has a higher hydrogen generation rate (HGR) than other synthesized catalysts for the methanolysis of NaBH4. Moreover, it exhibited a high HGR of 28015.2 mL/min.gcat and low activation energy (Ea) of 17.89 kJ/mol under optimum conditions (25 mg cat, 10 mL methanol, 0.15 g NaBH4, and 60 degrees C).