Fabrication of Pt-loaded NiCo nanochains with superior catalytic dehydrogenation activity

•NiCo/Pt nanoball chains have been synthesized through hierarchical process.•The product presents exceedingly high catalytic activity.•The product has low activation energy of 45.72 kJ mol−1.•The product presents superior dehydrogenation rate of 1.17 × 104 mL min−1 g−1.•The catalysts can be recycled easily by externally applied magnetic field.

A new magnetic Pt-loaded NiCo nanochain, with the diameter from 80 nm to 120 nm, has been prepared through microwave-induced assembly process followed by the galvanic displacement performance. Pt nanoparticles are distributed on the surface of NiCo nanochains. The products are investigated as hydrolytic dehydrogenation catalyst for potential hydrogen energy applications. Compared with NiCo nanochains, the Pt-loaded NiCo nanochains present exceedingly high catalytic activity toward the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane aqueous under ambient atmosphere at room temperature, where the Ni16Co80/Pt4 nanochains exhibit high catalytic activity with a lower activation energy of 45.72 kJ mol−1 and a superior dehydrogenation rate of 1.17 × 104 mL min−1 g−1, suggesting the potential application in hydrogen fuel and chemical industry.

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