Facile synthesis of monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles supported on graphene for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Monodisperse ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on graphene have been synthesized by co-reduction of RuCl3 and graphite oxide in ethylene glycol using ascorbic acid as reducing agents. Thanks to the narrow size distribution of Ru NPs and the synergistic effect with graphene, the as-synthesized Ru/graphene exerts exceedingly high catalytic activity toward hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane, with the turnover frequency (TOF) value of 600 mol H2 min−1 (mol Ru)−1, which is among the highest value ever reported.