US 12286349 B1Patent grantUnited States

Mixed-Oxide Catalyst for On-Demand Hydrogen

Official patent title

Synthesis of nanocomposite for green energy production

Arabic title: تصنيع مركب نانوي لإنتاج الطاقة الخضراء

Invention

Problem

Catalytic hydrogen release from chemical hydrides needs materials with reproducible composition and generation rates, while catalyst synthesis can require high temperatures and lengthy processing.

Why it matters

Controlled hydrogen generation from NaBH4 could support on-demand gas-supply research, but its overall value depends on reagent sourcing, byproducts, catalyst life, and system safety.

Approach

The patent synthesizes a MoO3@Al2O3—MgO nanocomposite by solution mixing, carbonization, grinding, and calcination, then uses it to catalyze NaBH4 hydrolysis and collect H2.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include hydrogen-generation researchers, catalyst manufacturers, fuel-cell system developers, chemical-hydride companies, and advanced-materials laboratories.

Potential value

The asset links a defined MoO3 loading and mixed-oxide synthesis route with reported NaBH4 hydrolysis rates across 30–45 °C, offering a concrete catalyst-development baseline.

Background

Hydrogen can serve as an energy carrier, but production, storage, and transport remain technical and economic challenges. Chemical hydrides such as sodium borohydride offer a route to release hydrogen by hydrolysis when a catalyst is present. Mixed metal-oxide nanocomposites provide adjustable composition and surface properties, yet their manufacture can involve high temperature, variable particle size, and extensive post-treatment. The patent develops a MoO3@Al2O3—MgO catalyst using nitrate and acetate precursors, sucrose, ammonium molybdate, carbonization, grinding, and calcination, then evaluates hydrogen release from NaBH4.

Technology overview

Al(NO3)3·9H2O, Mg(Ac)2·4H2O, sucrose, ammonium molybdate, and distilled water form a reaction mixture that is heated at 150–220 °C until carbonized. The product is ground and calcined at 700–800 °C for 2–4 hours to form MoO3@Al2O3—MgO containing 1–20 wt.% MoO3. The catalyst hydrolyzes NaBH4 to evolve and collect H2. Claims state at least 400 mL·min−1·g−1 hydrogen generation, with temperature-dependent values from at least 500 mL·min−1·g−1 at 30 °C to at least 1200 mL·min−1·g−1 at 45 °C.

Potential applications

Potential use in laboratory on-demand hydrogen generation from NaBH4.
Potential use in catalyst cartridges for fuel-cell supply research.
Potential use in comparative studies of mixed-oxide hydrolysis catalysts.
Potential use in chemical-hydrogen storage and release experiments.

Evidence-supported advantages

Defines a reproducible precursor, carbonization, grinding, and calcination sequence.
Allows MoO3 content across a claimed 1–20 wt.% range.
Reports hydrogen-generation rates at several near-ambient reaction temperatures.
Uses a mixed-oxide catalyst without Pt, Pd, Ru, or Ir in the claimed composition.

Development stage

Patent publication with reported catalyst synthesis and NaBH4-hydrolysis hydrogen-generation measurements; durability, integrated-system validation, scale-up, and commercialization were not established.

Commercial opportunity

The catalyst may support development partnerships for chemical-hydride hydrogen generators. Commercial evaluation should verify catalyst yield, surface and phase consistency, rate normalization, NaBH4 conversion, gas purity, startup control, catalyst reuse, borate handling, reagent recycling, corrosion, hydrogen safety, thermal management, cartridge integration, total lifecycle cost, and comparison with competing release systems.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

C01B3/04Non-metallic elements; compounds thereof
B01J23/28Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus

CPC

B01J37/0036Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
C01B3/04Non-metallic elements; compounds thereof
B01J35/45Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
B01J37/08Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
B01J23/28Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
C01B2203/1041Non-metallic elements; compounds thereof
Y02E60/36Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions related to energy generation, transmission or distribution
C01B2203/1647Non-metallic elements; compounds thereof

Inventors

First inventorBabiker Yagoub Elhadi Abdulkhair
InventorMohamed Nady Abd El-Hameed Ibrahim
InventorMohamed Khairy Abdel-Fatah Omran

Keywords

MoO3
Al2O3
MgO
nanocomposite
sodium borohydride
hydrogen generation
hydrolysis catalyst
chemical hydride

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.