Self-supported spinel FeCo2O4 nanowire array: an efficient non-noble-metal catalyst for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 toward on-demand hydrogen generation

NaBH4 has been considered as one of the most advantageous candidates for chemical hydrogen storage, but it is still a huge challenge to design efficient non-noble-metal catalysts for on-demand hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis. In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time that a spinel FeCo2O4 nanowire array supported on carbon cloth (FeCo2O4 NA/CC) behaves as an efficient earth-abundant catalyst toward NaBH4 hydrolysis in alkaline solutions with an activation energy of 44.98 kJ mol−1. Such FeCo2O4 NA/CC offers a hydrogen generation rate of 2551 ml min−1 g−1 under ambient conditions, with good stability and reusability. Its use as an ON/OFF switch for on-demand hydrogen generation is also demonstrated successfully.