Copper nanoparticles decorated on cobalt oxide nanosheets derived from bimetallic metal–organic-framework for hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles decorated on cobalt oxide nanosheets were successfully prepared from Cu-Co-MOF-74 by in situ reduction with simultaneous hydrolysis of aqueous ammonia borane, with a TOF value of 18.5 min⁻¹ and good durability over 5 cycles of the hydrogen evolution reaction at 25 °C. The spatial confinement of the MOF structure for the formation of nanocatalysts and the interaction between Cu and CoO_x are responsible for the improved catalytic activity. This strategy gives the possibility of tailoring specific functional metal/metal oxides from MOFs for application in energy storage and conversion.