Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Fuel, cilt.406, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
In this study, we report for the first time the strategic Zn doping of TiO2 nanoparticles as an innovative approach to dramatically enhance catalytic hydrogen production via sodium borohydride (NaBH4) methanolysis. This novel Zn-TiO2 nanocatalyst was synthesized by a simple sol–gel method with an optimal Zn doping level of 1 wt%, producing uniform nanospheres with an average size of 8.27 nm. Structural characterizations confirmed the successful incorporation of Zn ions into the TiO2 lattice, inducing oxygen vacancies and significantly increasing surface area—two key factors that synergistically boost catalytic activity beyond that of pure TiO2. As a result, the Zn-TiO2 catalyst delivered a remarkable hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 20160 mLmin−1g−1 at 30 °C with 0.125 g NaBH4. Kinetic analyses revealed strong temperature dependence, with HGR rising from 16,965 to 38145 mLmin−1g−1 between 25–40 °C and an activation energy (Ea) of 39.1 kJ mol−1. Increasing NaBH4 concentration produced an exponential HGR increase, reaching saturation at ∼0.20 g and peaking at 34,950 mLmin−1g−1 with 0.25 g NaBH4. This work uniquely demonstrates that Zn-induced structural modifications can transform TiO2 into a highly efficient, low-cost catalyst for clean hydrogen production, offering a novel pathway toward scalable and sustainable hydrogen energy systems.