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 NaBH 4 hydrolysis. Hydrolysis measurement shows that the ratio Co:Mo = 0.7:0.3 realizes a much higher hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 7023.3 mL H 2 ⋅ min − 1 ⋅ g M − 1 , about 1.6 times of that for the Mo element undoped Co/3DGO (4394 m L H 2 . min − 1. g M − 1 ) catalyst. And the reaction activation energy is as low as 35.6 kJ mol − 1. The as prepared Co 0.7 Mo 0.3 /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, MoO 3 supported active blend of Co and CoO is another reason for the higher activity. Image 1 • Co-Mo/3DGO, catalyst for NaBH 4 hydrolysis was prepared. • The Co-Mo/3DGO catalyst presented a waxberry like structure with more active sites. • The catalyst had a superior catalytic activity, and HGR was 7023.3 mL H 2 ⋅ min − 1 ⋅ g M − 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]