Highly efficient Ni@Ni–Pt/La2O3 catalyst for hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine decomposition: Effect of Ni–Pt surface alloying

•Supported core–shell structured Ni@Ni–Pt/La2O3 catalyst is reported.•The catalyst shows excellent activity for selective decomposition of N2H4·H2O to H2.•The improved catalytic performance is ascribed to Ni–Pt surface alloying.•The developed catalyst may promote the application of N2H4·H2O as a viable H2 carrier.

Hydrous hydrazine has received increasing attention as a promising hydrogen carrier owing to its many favorable attributes, such as high hydrogen content, low material cost, stable liquid state at ambient conditions, and free of solid decomposition byproduct. Herein, we report the synthesis of a supported core–shell structured Ni@Ni–Pt/La2O3 catalyst by a combination of co-precipitation and galvanic replacement methods. The catalyst exhibits high catalytic activity and 100% selectivity towards hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine at mild conditions, which outperforms most reported hydrous hydrazine decomposition catalysts. The favorable catalytic performance of the Ni@Ni–Pt/La2O3 catalyst is correlated with the Pt-induced electronic and geometric modifications on the catalyst surface.

Graphical abstractSupported core–shell structured Ni@Ni–Pt/La2O3 catalyst shows high activity and selectivity towards hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine decomposition.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide