Synergistic catalysis of MCM-41 immobilized Cu–Ni nanoparticles in hydrolytic dehydrogeneration of ammonia borane

• New Cu–Ni/MCM-41 catalysts are synthesized and used as catalyst for hydrolysis of AB.
• Cu–Ni/MCM-41 exhibit superior activity than monometallic counterparts and pure bimetallic NPs.
• The highest TOF value in Cu-based catalysts for hydrolysis of AB is obtained.
• The measured activation energy 38 kJ mol−1 is lower than most of the reported values.

Bimetallic Cu–Ni nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully immobilized in MCM-41 using a simple liquid impregnation-reduction method. All the resulting composites Cu–Ni/MCM-41 catalysts with various contents of Cu–Ni, and in particular Cu0.2Ni0.8/MCM-41 sample, outperform the activity of monometallic Cu and Ni counterparts and pure bimetallic Cu0.2Ni0.8 NPs in hydrolytic dehydrogeneration of ammonia borane (AB) at room temperature. The Cu0.2Ni0.8/MCM-41 catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity with a total turnover frequency (TOF) value of 10.7 mol H2 mol catalyst−1 min−1 and a low activation energy value of 38 kJ mol−1 at room temperature. In addition, Cu0.2Co0.8/MCM-41 also exhibits excellent activity with a TOF value as high as 15.0 mol H2 mol catalyst−1 min−1. This obtained activity represents the highest catalytic active of Cu-based monometallic and bimetallic catalysts up to now toward the hydrolytic dehydrogeneration of ammonia borane (AB). The unprecedented excellent activity has been successfully achieved thanks to the strong bimetallic synergistic effects among the Cu–Ni (or Co) NPs of the composites.

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