Surfactant free RGO/Pd nanocomposites as highly active heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane for chemical hydrogen storage

Abstract

In this study, monodisperse palladium (Pd) nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) surfaces were successfully prepared by a “wet” and “clean” method in aqueous solution. Without any surface treatment, Pd nanoparticles are firmly attached to the RGO sheets. These RGO/Pd nanocomposites exhibited catalytic activity in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). Their hydrolysis completion time and activation energy were 12.5 min and 51 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, which were comparable to the best Pd-based catalyst reported. The TOF values (mol of H₂ × (mol of catalyst × min)⁻¹) of RGO/Pd is 6.25, which appears to be one of the best catalysts reported so far. We also obtained a ¹¹B NMR spectrum to investigate the mechanism of this catalytic hydrolysis process. This simple and straightforward method is of significance for the facile preparation of metal nanocatalysts with high catalytic activity on proper supporting materials.