Durability of Co-P-B/Cu Catalyst for NaBH₄ Hydrolysis Reaction

NaBH₄ 가수분해용 Co-P-B/Cu 촉매의 내구성

Sodium borohydride, $NaBH_4$, shows a number of advantages as hydrogen source for portable proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The durability of Co-P-B/Cu catalyst for sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction was studied. The effect of reaction temperature, $NaBH_4$ concentration, NaOH concentration and calcination temperature of catalyst on the durability of Co-P-B/Cu catalyst were measured. The gel formed during hydrolysis reaction affected the durability of catalyst (loss of catalyst). Formation of gel increased the loss of the catalyst. When $NaBH_4$ concentration was high and reaction temperature was higher than $60^{\circ}C$, loss of catalyst was low because gel was not formed. But under the temperature of $40^{\circ}C$, loss of catalyst increased due to gel formation When $NaBH_4$ concentration was 40 weight % and the reaction temperature was $40^{\circ}C$, the loss of catalyst increased as the NaOH concentration increased. As the calcination temperature of catalyst decreased, the loss of catalyst decreased and the activity of catalyst decreased. Calcination of the catalyst at high temperature enhanced the durability of catalyst but diminished the activity of catalyst.

휴대용 고분자전해질 연료전지의 수소발생용으로써 $NaBH_4$는 많은 장점을 갖고 있다. 본 연구에서는 $NaBH_4$ 가수분해 반응용 Co-P-B/Cu 촉매의 내구성에 대해 연구하였다. Co-P-B/Cu 촉매의 내구성 미치는 반응 온도, $NaBH_4$ 농도, NaOH 농도, 촉매 소성온도 등의 영향에 대해 실험하였다. 촉매의 내구성은 가수분해 반응 중에 발생하는 gel 형성에 영향을 받았다. 즉 gel 형성에 의해 촉매 손실률이 증가하였다. $NaBH_4$ 농도가 고농도일 때는 $60^{\circ}C$ 이상에서는 gel 형성이 안 되어 촉매 손실률이 낮았다. 그러나 $40^{\circ}C$ 이하에서는 gel이 형성되어 촉매 손실률이 증가했다. $NaBH_4$ 20 wt%, $40^{\circ}C$에서 NaOH 농도증가에 따라 겔이 형성되어 촉매 손실률이 증가함을 보였다. Co-P-B/Cu 촉매의 높은 온도에서 소성은 내구성을 향상시켰지만 촉매 활성을 감소시켰다.