Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) is a promising hydrogen carrier owing to its high hydrogen density (10.7 wt% H2), stability under ambient conditions, and compatibility with closed-loop regeneration strategies.1 Controlled catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH₄ provides a safe and efficient pathway for on-demand hydrogen release of up to 21.4 wt% H2, contingent on the development of durable, low-cost catalysts and scalable reactor designs.
A variety of hydrolysis catalysts have been designed to optimise hydrogen generation rates (HGR).2 Noble metal-based materials are highly effective but inhibited by cost, and so transition metal based catalysts have been explored. Cobalt based catalysts have been found to be effective with HGR rates of 10 L/min/gcatalyst having been reported with reusability tests confirming stable performance over multiple hydrolysis cycles. To facilitate large scale hydrolysis, reactors have been developed to facilitate continuous operation.3 These systems must control hydrogen delivery with minimal pressure fluctuations, and scaling projections indicate compatibility with industrially relevant purification and hydrogen compression.
This presentation discusses advances in ruthenium and cobalt-based catalyst systems and a prototype flow-through reactor for continuous hydrogen generation. These advances not only enhance the practicality of NaBH₄ for hydrogen export but also complement emerging electrochemical regeneration pathways for converting spent borates back to NaBH₄. Integration of catalyst, reactor, and regeneration technologies establishes a feasible framework for NaBH₄ hydrogen supply chains, supporting global energy transport and decarbonisation strategies.
References
1. A. Ibrahim et al., Sustain. Energy Fuels, 2023, 7, 1196.
2. H. N. Abdelhamid, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2021, 46, 726.
3. D. L. Silva et al., Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 144, 1207.