Graphene supported Ag@Co core–shell nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of amine boranes

• Facile synthesize graphene supported Ag@Co core–shell NPs.
• The catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activity toward hydrolysis of AB and MeAB.
• The catalysts show good durable stability and magnetically recyclability.

Well-dispersed Ag@Co core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) supported on graphene with controlled compositions were synthesized by the reduction of silver nitrate, cobalt(II) acetate, and graphene oxide (GO) in the presence of hydrazine and ethylene glycol. These NPs were composition dependent catalysts for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane. Among all Ag@Co catalysts tested, the Ag0.5@Co0.5/graphene NPs exhibited the highest catalytic activity, with the turnover frequency (TOF) value of 10.5 mol H2 min−1 (mol catalyst)−1, and activation energy value of 39.33 kJ/mol. Kinetic studies reveal that the catalytic hydrolysis of AB and MeAB are both first order with respect to the catalyst concentrations. Furthermore, the Ag0.5@Co0.5/graphene NPs show good durable stability and magnetically recyclability for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB and MeAB, which makes the practical recycling application of the catalyst more convenient.

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