Highly stable and controllable CoB/Ni-foam catalysts for hydrogen generation from alkaline NaBH4 solution

Abstract In this work, a series of shaped CoB/Ni-foam catalysts were directly synthesized by using a convenient and simple electroless plating method. Despite the low loading amount of CoB, the catalysts showed high catalytic performance in the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 solution, and the maximum hydrogen generation rate reached 1930 mL min −1 (g CoB) −1 in 1 wt % NaBH 4  + 5 wt % NaOH solution at 293 K. The catalysts demonstrated distinct stability, and the hydrogen generation rate was almost unchanged after 6 cycles. Furthermore, the catalysts could be easily recovered from the reaction system by a magnet. These characteristics make CoB/Ni-foam a high performance and cost effective catalyst for practical applications of hydrogen generation.