Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Silver Closo-Dodecaborate Film for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution

The icosahedral closo dodecaborate cluster [B12 H12 ]2- is gaining increasing interest due to its unique properties including the ease of functionalization, 3D aromaticity, and formation of metal salts with high ion conductivity. In this work, simple and effective preparation of silver closo dodecaborte (Ag2 B12 H12 ) films is reported by an electrochemical route. The size of the Ag2 B12 H12 particles in the films can be tuned from nanometers to micrometers by varying the electrochemical parameters. Ag nanoclusters with controllable sizes are successfully generated via electrochemical reduction reactions or thermal anneal of the Ag2 B12 H12 films. When tested for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an acidic solution, the as-prepared Ag nanoparticles deliver a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 376 mV overpotential. This research sheds light on a new synthesis of [B12 H12 ]2- based thin films, the generation of metal nano-powders, and their application in HER or other applications.

Synthesis and Structures of Copper and Thallium(I) Coordination Compounds [Cu2[B10H10]]n and Tl2[B10H10] with the closo-Decaborate Anion

Abstract

Solvent-free copper(I) and thallium(I) compounds of the general formula [M2[B10H10]] have been synthesized. The compounds have been identified by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. According to X-ray diffraction data, the structures of both compounds are three-dimensional frameworks. In copper(I) complex [Cu2[B10H10]]n, the formation of three-center M–H–B bonds is observed. In thallium(I) compound Tl2[B10H10], the bond between cations and anions is ionic, which is confirmed by IR spectroscopy data. The Hirschfeld surface analysis of the boron cluster anion was performed for both compounds to identify and analyze intramolecular interactions.