Superior hydrogen production rate by catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane using Co-B nanoparticles supported over mesoporous silica particles

Catalyst in the form of Co-B nanoparticles supported on mesoporous silica particles (MSP) was synthesized by chemical impregnation–reduction method. This catalyst powder was used for hydrogen production by hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane (AB) and was compared with Co-B catalyst supported on non-porous silica particles (NSP) and unsupported Co-B powder. It was found that the MSPs synthesized in the present studies have average pore size of about 3.1 nm which were efficient to anchor the Co-B particles with average size of ~ 8 nm on the surface to provide high active surface area and improved degree of dispersion. MSP-supported Co-B catalyst was able to produce expected amount of H2 gas from hydrolysis of AB with significantly superior generation rate, about 3 times higher than that produced by unsupported and NSP-supported Co-B catalyst. Availability of a large number of under-coordinated Co active atoms owing to the size of nanoparticles, better dispersion, high surface area and good stability against agglomeration during the reaction are the main features acquired by the Co-B nanoparticles supported on MSP that exhibit high catalytic efficiency.

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► Mesoporous silica with pore size of ~ 3 nm anchors Co-B NPs of ~ 8 nm.
► Supported Co-B produces 3 times higher H2 generation rate than unsupported.
► High dispersion and surface area are achieved with supported catalyst.