Ca0.5Mg0.5Co2O4 Nanosheets Comprised of Nanoparticles, Synthesis, Characterization and their Catalytic Activity in the Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Abstract-Catalytic hydrolytic reaction of ammonia borane (AB) is regarded as safe and efficient way to produce hydrogen. However, the development of heterogeneous catalysts with both high catalytic performance and low cost for this hydrolytic reaction is still a great challenge. In this work, we have developed a novel catalyst for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane, Ca 0.5 Mg 0.5 Co 2 O 4 nanosheets composed of nanoparticles, which was characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and volumetric analyzer. In the AB hydrolysis, the hydrogen production rate will increase as the increase the NaOH dosage. At NaOH dosage of 1.6 g, the turnover frequency is 4.8 mol hydrogen min -1 mol cat -1 . It is also found that a high catalyst dosage and a high reaction temperature are favorable for the fast hydrogen release from AB solution.