Highly Dispersed CuNi Nanoparticles Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide as Efficient Catalysts for Hydrogen Generation from NH3BH3

Highly dispersed CuNi nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were synthesized via the simple in situ co-reduction of an aqueous solution of Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, nickel chloride hexahydrate, and graphene oxide (GO) by the reduction of ammonia borane (AB) at room temperature. The powder XRD, FTIR, EDS, and TEM techniques were used to charaterize the structure, size, and composition of the CuNi/RGO catalysts. The as-prepared CuNi/RGO catalysts showed excellent catalytic performance toward the hydrolysis of AB at room temperature. Compared to Cu/RGO, Ni/RGO, and the RGO-free Cu0.6Ni0.4 counterpart, the as-prepared Cu0.6Ni0.4/RGO catalysts showed much better catalytic activity. Furthermore, kinetic studies showed that the catalytic hydrolysis of AB by Cu0.6Ni0.4/RGO has zero order dependence on the AB concentration, but first order dependence on the catalyst concentration. The turnover frequency (TOF) of Cu0.6Ni0.4/RGO catalyst for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB was determined to be about 20.2 mol H2 (mol Cu0.6Ni0.4/RGO)−1 min−1 at 25 °C. In addition, the activation energy (Ea ) of Cu0.6Ni0.4/RGO was determined to be around 17.7 kJ mol−1, which is one of the lowest activation energy’s of the reported metal-based catalysts.

Noble-metal-free nanocatalysts for hydrogen generation from boron- and nitrogen-based hydrides

We focus on the recent advances in non-noble metal catalyst design, synthesis and applications in dehydrogenation of chemical hydrides (e.g. NaBH₄, NH₃BH₃, NH₃, N₂H₄, N₂H₄BH₃) due to their high hydrogen contents and CO-free H₂ production.

Surfactant-aided synthesis of RhCo nanoclusters as highly effective and recyclable catalysts for the hydrolysis of methylamine borane and dimethylamine borane

In this study, the first ever and easy surfactant-aided synthesis of CTAB-stabilized Rh_0.63Co_0.37 and their employment as highly efficient, cost-saving, and recyclable catalysts to generate hydrogen from the hydrolysis of MeAB and DMAB are reported.

Polypyrrole-multi walled carbon nanotube hybrid material supported Pt NPs for hydrogen evolution from the hydrolysis of MeAB at mild conditions

Herein, we report a facile method for the preparation of polypyrrole-multi walled carbon nanotube hybrid material including Pt nanoparticles (Pt@PPy-MWCNT NPs) and the use in methylamine borane (MeAB) for hydrolysis reaction at mild conditions. The prepared catalyst of Pt@PPy-MWCNT NPs was characterized by some advanced analytical methods. The catalytic experiments showed the Pt@PPy-MWCNT NPs can catalyze MeAB in aquatic solution with high catalytical performance at mild conditions. The reaction rate of catalytic hydrolysis with Pt@PPy-MWCNT NPs was found to be -d[CH3NH2BH3]/dt = + d[H2]/3dt = kobs[Pt@PPy-MWCNT]1.19 [MeAB]0.88. The TOF value for the hydrolysis of MeAB catalyzed with Pt@PPy-MWCNT NPs was detected to be 10234.2 1/h (170.57 1/min) which is very high compared with TOF values found for other catalysts. Enthalpy, entropy and activation energy for the hydrolysis of MeAB were calculated to be 31.57 kJ mol-1, -119.97 J mol-1 K and 34.27 kJ mol-1, respectively.

Single-walled carbon nanotube supported Pt-Ru bimetallic superb nanocatalyst for the hydrogen generation from the methanolysis of methylamine-borane at mild conditions

Several metal nanoparticle based catalysts have been synthesized for catalyzing the hydrogen production process by hydrolysis of methylamine-borane (MeAB). However, there was only one study that catalyzes the producing of hydrogenvia the methanolysis of MeAB, and it was carried out by our research group. For this reason, in this work, a new catalyst system entitled by single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) supported bimetallic platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles were developed and called as PtRu@SWCNT. These NPs were characterized by several techniques (XRD, XPS, Raman, and TEM), and they were performed for the methanolysis of MeAB with high catalytic activity. The prepared PtRu@SWCNT NPs were also tested in the methanolysis of MeAB at different parameters including different temperatures, catalyst and substrate concentrations, and reusability performance. Experimental results revealed that the new PtRu@SWCNT NPs had excellent catalytic activity and reusability for removing of hydrogen from the methanolysis of MeAB at ambient conditions. According to the obtained data, the turnover frequency is 136.25 mole H₂/mole PtRu × min, and the activation energy (Ea) is 17.29 kJ/mole. More than 99% of conversion was observed at room temperature.

Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 Nanocomposites, Morphology, Controlled Synthesis, and Catalytic Performance in the Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Hydrogen Production

The catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB) is a promising route to produce hydrogen for mobile hydrogen‒oxygen fuel cells. In this study, we have successfully synthesized a variety of Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ nanocomposites with different morphology, including nanoplatelets, nanoparticles, and urchin-like microspheres. The catalytic performance of those Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ composites in AB hydrolysis is investigated. The Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ nanoplatelets show the best catalytic performance despite having the smallest specific surface area, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 80.2 mol_hydrogen·min^-1·mol^-1_cat. The results reveal that, in contrast to the Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ nanoparticles and microspheres, the Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ nanoplatelets are more readily reduced, leading to the fast formation of active species for AB hydrolysis. These findings provide some insight into the design of high-performance oxide-based catalysts for AB hydrolysis. Considering their low cost and high catalytic activity, Ni_0.5Cu_0.5Co₂O₄ nanoplatelets are a strong candidate catalyst for the production of hydrogen through AB hydrolysis in practical applications.

Synthesized polyvidone-stabilized Rh(0) nanoparticles catalyzed the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of methylamine-borane in ambient conditions

Polyvidone (PVP40)-stabilized Rh nanoparticles (Rh@PVP40) were synthesized via a classical alcohol reduction technique and were characterized by carrying out TEM, HR-TEM, TEM/EDX, P-XRD analysis, UV/Vis and XPS spectroscopy investigations.

Highly active and reusable silica-aerogel-supported platinum–cobalt bimetallic catalysts for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane

In this study, platinum–cobalt bimetallic catalysts supported on mesoporous silica aerogel (SAG), abbreviated as PCx/SAG,x= 1–6, were prepared by facile chemical reduction and a simple, efficient microwave-assisted method using Co and Pt precursors.

Silica aerogel-supported cobalt nanocomposites as efficient catalysts toward hydrogen generation from aqueous ammonia borane

For the Co/SAG catalyst, the Co nanoparticles (<5 nm in diameter) were well distributed in the SAG matrix, and as the M/AB ratio was increased to 0.2, the hydrogen release from aqueous NH₃BH₃ was complete within 3 min.