Accelerating proton-coupled electron transfer: Defect-rich cobalt-decorated crystalline/amorphous Co2B-MoB2/CMO heterointerface catalysts for enhanced NaBH4 hydrolysis

The development of efficient and long-lasting catalysts for hydrogen generation is vital for advancing innovations in clean energy technologies. In this study, we synthesized and characterized Co 2 B-MoB 2 /CMO, a crystalline/amorphous heterointerface catalyst, for sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) hydrolysis, achieving a high hydrogen generation rate of 7364.3 mL min –1 g –1 at 298 K. The activation energy of 44.4 kJ mol –1 was lower than that of most reported catalyst. Both experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate that Co defects and the interfacial regions between crystalline and amorphous phases in Co 2 B-MoB 2 /CMO are essential in integrating critical factors, such as a high concentration of unsaturated coordination sites. These features not only alter the surface electronic properties but also enhance the adsorption of H 2 O molecules and promote the dissociation of the BH 4 – , thereby optimizing catalytic performance. In addition, the NaBH 4 hydrolysis hydrogen production system based on this catalyst successfully drove a hydrogen-air fuel cell and lit up a small light bulb, demonstrating its potential in practical applications.