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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Advanced Nb-Based MOF-Supported Co/Pt Nanocatalyst for Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Sodium Borohydride
Giovana Barros Magalhães1,2, Tatianny de Araujo Andrade2, Renata Lopes Moreira2
1Research Laboratory in bionanomaterials, LPbio, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Expanding renewable energy sources is essential for global decarbonization. Hydrogen (H2) is a clean energy carrier, but its storage remains challenging. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is attractive due to its high hydrogen content; however, its hydrolysis is kinetically slow and requires catalysts. In this study, a niobium-based Metal-Organic Framework, Nb-(PDC)-(BTC), where PDC is pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate and BTC is benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, was synthesized and used as a support for cobalt-platinum nanoparticles (Co-Pt NP) formed in situ. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed ligand coordination, X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the crystalline phase, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed good thermal stability. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area reached 1839.63 m2/g. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed rough crystalline morphology and well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles anchored to the support. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) verified the presence of Nb, Co, and Pt. The catalyst achieved a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 3214 mL min-1 g-1 under optimal conditions (0.5 mmol of Co60Pt40 on 10 mg of Nb-(PDC)-(BTC); NaBH4 0.500 mol L-1 in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 0.100 mol L-1 at 301.15 K), with an activation energy of 17.45 kJ mol-1, demonstrating strong potential for sustainable H2 production.
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