Department of Chemistry2024-11-0920220360-319910.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.08.2692-s2.0-85138131366http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.08.269https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/10754Development of efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction is of key importance for the safe storage and utilization of hydrogen from the hydrolysis of NaBH4. In this study, a series of nanocatalysts containing iron-and nickel-based metal borides were developed through a mechanochemical route followed by a wet milling step. The use of the mole ratio of metal chlorides to NaBH4 as 1:2 enabled the simultaneous formation of Ni3B and FeB phases, while the room-temperature synthesis method caused a uniform morphology with an average particle size and surface are of 70 nm and 41.8 m2/g, respectively. This powder showed the best catalytic performance compared to other samples with a hydrogen gen-eration rate value of 758 ml H2 min-1 gcat-1 at room temperature and an activation energy of 40.8 kJ/mol. The catalyst performed good durability for each cycle and retained about 70% of its initial catalytic activity after 5 cycles. The availability of active iron, nickel, and boron species on the surface contributed to the enhancement of catalytic activity. As -prepared catalysts can be considered as low-cost and reusable materials for the efficient hydrolysis of sodium borohydride.ChemistryPhysical chemistryElectrochemistryEnergyFuelsJournal Article1879-34878795573000016629