Ultrafast hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane catalyzed by highly efficient bimetallic RuNi nanoparticles stabilized on Ti3C2X2 (X = OH and/or F)

•RuNi nanoparticles deposited on graphene-like transition metal carbide were prepared.•The as-synthesized nanocomposites exhibited excellent catalytic for AB hydrolysis.•The highest turnover frequency of 824.7 mol H2·(mol Ru·min)−1 was obtained.

Graphene-like transition metal carbide [Ti3C2X2 (X = OH and/or F)]-supported RuNi bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from the co-reduction of ruthenium chloride and nickel chloride with Ti3C2X2 as a stabilizer and carrier. Ti3C2X2-supported RuNi NPs were well dispersed in aqueous solution. The as-synthesized composites were applied as catalysts in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB), which is a promising solid-state hydrogen storage material for portable fuel cell application. Results indicated that the RuNi/Ti3C2X2 catalyst was highly active for the hydrolysis of AB at room temperature, with the highest turnover frequency number of 824.7 mol H2·(mol Ru·min)−1. The activation energy for the hydrolysis of AB in the aqueous phase reached 25.7 kJ/mol, which was lower than most of the reported values.

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