LAUSR

Abstract In the present study, nanostructured Co–Ni–P catalysts have been successfully prepared on Cu sheet by electroless plating method. The morphologies of Co–Ni–P catalysts are composed of football-like, granular, mockstrawberry-like and shuttle-like shapes by tuning the depositional pH value. The as-deposited mockstrawberry-like Co–Ni–P catalyst exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of NaBH4 solution. The hydrogen generation rate and activation energy are 2172.4 mL min−1 g−1 and 53.5 kJ mol−1, respectively. It can be inferred that the activity of catalysts is the result of the synergistic effects of the surface roughness, the particle size and microscopic architectures. Furthermore, the stability of mockstrawberry-like Co–Ni–P catalyst has been discussed, and the hydrogen generation rate remains about 81.4% of the initial value after 5 cycles.