Spherical Carbon Derived from Sustainable Sources and Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles as a Catalyst for Hydrogen Release
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The reliance on carbon-based fuels remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives such as hydrogen. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4), with a hydrogen content of 10.6 wt%, is a promising chemical hydrogen storage material capable of releasing four moles of H2 per mole through hydrolysis; however, effective catalysts are essential for practical implementation. In this study, silver nanoparticles supported on glucose-derived carbon microspheres (AgSC) were synthesized and evaluated for catalytic NaBH4 hydrolysis. Structural characterization (XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS) confirmed the uniform dispersion of metallic silver nanoparticles on the carbon support with no detectable Ag2O phase. AgSC exhibited superior catalytic activity compared to unsupported Ag or bare carbon, achieving the highest hydrogen generation under neutral pH, elevated temperatures, and 835 µmol NaBH4. The catalyst displayed an activation energy of 54 kJ mol−1, turnover numbers (TONs) of 1.4 × 105–1.9 × 105, and turnover frequencies (TOFs) of 7.1 × 104–9.3 × 104 h−1, demonstrating efficient utilization of active sites. pH-dependent studies revealed optimal hydrogen yield under neutral conditions, while acidic and basic media reduced performance due to surface poisoning and BH4− stabilization, respectively. Reusability tests showed only ~5% activity loss after five cycles. These findings establish AgSC as a stable, efficient, and recyclable catalyst for on-demand hydrogen generation, supporting sustainable clean fuel technologies.
Source: Materials
DOI: 10.3390/ma18214912
Authors: Erik Biehler, Tarek Abdel-Fattah
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4415647762