Efficient Hydrogen Generation with Co3O4@TiO2-g-C3N4 Composite Catalyst via Catalytic NaBH4 Hydrolysis

Abstract

In this study, g-C3N4-TiO2 nanocomposite structure has been loaded with Co3O4 via electroless plating and thermal annealing to form Co3O4@g-C3N4-TiO2 catalyst material for H-2 generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis. The material characterizations of the fabricated catalyst have been performed before and after exposure to an aqueous NaBH4 solution to understand the changes in catalytic performance and material properties. The Arrhenius activation energies have been determined to be 58 kJ mol(-1). The hydrogen generation rates have been observed as 180 and 1200 mL min(-1) g(cat)(-1) for the catalyst hydrolysis of NaBH4 at 30 degrees C and 60 degrees C, respectively. The catalytic activity performed in NaBH4 solution exhibited good reusability.