Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Nanocomposites, Morphology, Controlled Synthesis, and Catalytic Performance in the Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Hydrogen Production
oleh: Yufa Feng, Jin Zhang, Huilong Ye, Liling Li, Huize Wang, Xian Li, Xibin Zhang, Hao Li
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2019-09-01 |
Deskripsi
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<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanocomposites with different morphology, including nanoplatelets, nanoparticles, and urchin-like microspheres. The catalytic performance of those Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> composites in AB hydrolysis is investigated. The Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoplatelets show the best catalytic performance despite having the smallest specific surface area, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 80.2 mol<sub>hydrogen</sub>·min<sup>−1</sup>·mol<sup>−1</sup><sub>cat</sub>. The results reveal that, in contrast to the Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles and microspheres, the Ni<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> 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<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoplatelets are a strong candidate catalyst for the production of hydrogen through AB hydrolysis in practical applications.