Co-Mo nanoparticles loaded on three-dimensional graphene oxide as efficient catalysts for hydrogen generation from catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

Co-Mo particles were loaded on three dimensional graphene oxide (3DGO) carrier via a chemical reduction method to get a composite catalyst, Co-Mo/3DGO, for hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis. Hydrolysis measurement shows that the ratio Co:Mo = 0.7:0.3 realizes a much higher hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 7023.3mL(H2).min(-1).g(M)(-1), about 1.6 times of that for the Mo element undoped Co/3DGO (4394 mL(H2).min(-1).g(M)(-1) ) catalyst. And the reaction activation energy is as low as 35.6 kJ mol(-1). The as prepared Co0.7Mo0.3/3DGO catalyst disperses on 3DGO surface as smaller particles than Co/3DGO, and presents a waxberry like structure with more active sites for catalysis reaction, which enables the catalyst a superior catalytic activity. Besides abundant active sites, MoO3 supported active blend of Co and CoO is another reason for the higher activity. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.