Enhanced ammonia-borane decomposition by synergistic catalysis using CoPd nanoparticles supported on titano-silicates

Abstract

Pd and Co_xPd_1−x nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized using the reduction by solvent method, were loaded on SiO₂ and Ti–SiO₂ supports. The resulting catalysts were tested in the ammonia-borane decomposition reaction under dark and UV-vis conditions. The synergistic promotion by Co (in the NPs) and Ti (in the support), combined with the UV-vis light irradiation, enhanced the catalytic activity showing very promising TOFs values for this kind of catalysis, from 1.53 to 49.5 mol H₂ per mol Pd per min.