Synergistic effect of graphene oxide and MOF-235 for efficient hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride hydrolysis

Abstract

The global rise in energy demand and depletion of fossil fuels have intensified the search for clean and renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier due to its high energy density and environmentally friendly nature. Among hydrogen production routes, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis offers an efficient and controllable process for on-demand hydrogen generation. However, the development of cost-effective and sustainable catalysts remains a major challenge. In this study, a MOF-235@GO composite catalyst was successfully synthesized via a low-temperature hydrothermal method. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDS, XPS and BET analyses. The effects of catalyst amount, NaBH4 concentration, NaOH concentration and temperature on hydrogen generation were systematically investigated. The optimum conditions were determined as 100 mg catalyst, 200 mg NaBH4, 0.25 M NaOH and 80 degrees C, yielding 490 mL of hydrogen. The reaction followed zero-order kinetics with an activation energy of 61.83 kJ/mol. These findings highlight the potential of MOF-235@GO as an efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst for sustainable hydrogen production from NaBH4 hydrolysis.