ZnO-based nanocomposites for hydrogen generation via hydrolysis of Borohydride

Hydrogen storage and release using a solid-state material e.g., sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) may fulfill the requirements for the ‘Hydrogen Economy’. This study reported ZnO-based materials for hydrogen release via the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 . Two different metal oxides e.g. CeO 2 and TiO 2 with different weight loading (5 wt.% and 10 wt.%) were used during the synthesis via a simple combustion method. The synthesis procedure offered nanocomposites consisting of ZnO-xTiO 2 , and ZnO-xCeO 2 (x = 5 wt.% or 10 wt.%). Diffraction techniques (X-ray (XRD) and electron diffraction (ED)) confirm the phase purity of the material. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy characterized the optical properties of the materials. The materials displayed a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 3000 mL·min −1 ·g cat −1 . Thermodynamic analysis revealed that ZnO, ZnO-10TiO 2 , and ZnO-10CeO 2 catalysts have activation energies of 59.8, 36.8, and 27.5 kJ·mol −1 , respectively. Graphical Abstract A sol-gel method was used for the synthesis of ZnO nanocomposite with TiO 2 and CeO 2 . The composites were used as an effective catalysts for hydrogen production via the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 . The materials were easily synthesized and exhibit high hydrogen generation rates.