Preparation of different thin film catalysts by direct current magnetron sputtering for hydrogen generation

In this study, thin films of Co, Ni, Pd, and Pt were prepared on Co3O4 support material in pellet form using the direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering method for use as catalysts for hydrogen generation from NaBH4.Characterization of the catalysts was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to cross-sectional SEM images, catalyst thicknesses were observed in the range of approximately 115.3-495.8 nm. The particle sizes were approximately 25.0, 21.4, 33.9, and 9.5 nm for Ni-Co3O4, Co-Co3O4, Pd-Co3O4, and Pt-Co3O4 catalysts, respectively. The increase in NaOH initial concentration provides an increase in the rate of hydrogen generation for Co, Ni, and Pd catalysts. A maximum hydrogen generation rate of 1653 mL/g(cat).min was obtained for the Pt-Co3O4 catalyst.