Hydrogen generation from ammonia borane by NiRu nanoparticles catalysts

Abstract

The preparation, characterization and catalytic test of alloy type poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected nickel-ruthenium nanoparticles (3.8 ± 1.6 nm) (Ni-Ru@PVP) to liberate hydrogen from ammonia borane via hydrolysis have been reported in the present study. Ni-Ru@PVP nanoparticles have easily been synthesized by simultaneous reduction of suitable water-soluble nickel and ruthenium salts in the mixture of water/ethanol by a modified method of alcohol reduction with PVP as both reducing agent and stabilizer. They have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They have been detected to be highly efficient and durable catalysts to liberate hydrogen from ammonia borane via hydrolysis under ambient conditions. Among prepared catalysts, Ni_0.5Ru_0.5@PVP nanoparticles provided mean turnover frequency (TOF) of 300 min⁻¹ and activation energy of 46.8 ± 1.2 kJ mol⁻¹ in this hydrolysis reaction.

Keywords:

• Nickel
• ruthenium
• hydrogen
• hydrolysis
• ammonia borane

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Acknowledgement

TEM and XPS tests were done at Middle East Technical University Central Laboratory in Ankara.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study is financially supported by Van Yuzuncu Yil University Research Fund (Project Number: FBA-2019-8337).