Comparative XPS study of Rh/Al2O3 and Rh/TiO2 as catalysts for NaBH4 hydrolysis

The catalysts Rh/Al2O3 and Rh/TiO2 for hydrogen production from NaBH4 were prepared by deposition technique from RhCl3 reduced by NaBH4 and were studied by XPS and TEM. It was found that the RhCl3/Al2O3 system is more stable comparing to RhCl3/TiO2 which starts to decompose by weak heat treatment. It was shown that NaBH4 reduced RhCl3/TiO2 (Al2O3) to supported metal Rh nanoparticles in both cases. In the case of Rh/TiO2 SMSI effect it was found after RT reduction. The SMSI (Strong Metal-Support Interaction) effect gave an explanation for the difference of activity between Rh/TiO2 and Rh/Al2O3 catalysts in hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4.