Electronic metal-support interactions for defect-induced Ru/Co-Sm2O3 mesosphere to achieve efficient NaBH4 hydrolysis activity

Crafting resilient catalysts that promote H 2 production through the hydrolysis of hydrogen storage materials like sodium borohydride stands paramount for the impending hydrogen economy. In this study, we propose a versatile metal–organic framework (MOF)-assisted approach to systematically explore the impact of electron-metal support interaction (EMSI) of Ru-modified Co-Sm 2 O 3 (Ru/Co-Sm 2 O 3 ) on H 2 evolution from NaBH 4 hydrolysis. Strategic annealing at 800 °C induces cobalt vacancies on the Ru/Co-Sm 2 O 3 surface, optimizing the exposure of active sites and amplifying mass-charge transfer efficiency. Consequently, the defect-enriched Ru/Co-Sm 2 O 3 showcases an impressive hydrogen generation rate (HGR = 0.430 mol min −1 g catalyst −1 ) and outstanding cycling resilience, eclipsing the performance of most contemporary catalysts. Experimental findings reveal that Sm can not only adjust the Ru lattice spacing to accommodate more BH 4 − , but also modulate the Co vacancy concentration, thus bolstering the charge transport and ameliorating the catalyst's electrical conductivity. DFT calculations confirm that the Michaelis-Menten/Eley-Rideal mechanism is more appropriate to explain the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 .