Abstract
Highly effective graphitic carbon nitride-supported RhFe nanoparticles (RhFe/g-C(3)N(4)) were prepared using a simple wet impregnation-reduction method for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)). The obtained Rh(0.48)Fe(0.52)/g-C(3)N(4) catalyst was characterized using advanced analytical/spectroscopic techniques such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The catalytic activities of RhFe/g-C(3)N(4) catalysts with varying Rh/Fe molar ratios were investigated, demonstrating superior catalytic activity compared to monometallic Rh and Fe. The initial turnover frequency value of the Rh(0.48)Fe(0.52)/g-C(3)N(4) catalyst was calculated as 33.04 min(-1) and it showed an H(2) generation rate of 4214.02 mL min-1 gcat-1 at 298 K. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters (E (a) (#), ΔH (#), ΔS (#)) of the hydrolysis of NaBH(4) catalyzed by the Rh(0.48)Fe(0.52)/g-C(3)N(4) catalyst were elucidated. The findings demonstrated that the resulting Rh(0.48)Fe(0.52)/g-C(3)N(4) catalyst was recyclable and retained 80.72% of the initial activity even after 10 runs.