Effect of the nature of the active component and support on the activity of catalysts for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

The effect of the nature of an active component and a support on the rate of hydrolysis of aqueous sodium borohydride solutions was studied. It was found that the activity of supported catalysts, which were reduced in a reaction medium of sodium borohydride, decreased in the order Rh > Pt approximate to Ru >> Pd regardless of the nature of the support (gamma-Al2O3, a Sibunit carbon material, or TiO2). The catalysts based on TiO2 exhibited the highest activity. As found by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the composition and structure of the supported precursor of an active component depend on the nature of the support. It is likely that rhodium clusters with different reaction properties were formed on various supports under the action of a reaction medium.