Water soluble laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters catalyst for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane: High activity and long lifetime

The simplest amine-borane, considered as solid hydrogen storage material, ammonia-borane (H3NBH3) can release hydrogen gas upon catalytic hydrolysis under mild conditions. Herein, we report the preparation of a novel catalyst, water dispersible laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters from the dimethylamine-borane reduction of ruthenium(III) chloride in sodium laurate solution at room temperature. The ruthenium nanoclusters in average size of 2.6 ± 1.2 nm were isolated from the solution and well characterized by using TEM, XPS, FTIR, and UV–visible electronic absorption spectroscopy. The water dispersible laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters were found to be highly active and long-live catalyst with a TOF of 75 mol H2/mol Ru·min and TTO value of 5900 mol H2/mol Ru in the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C.