Boron nitride supported Ni nanoparticles as catalysts for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 693; pp. 642 - 649
• Main Authors: Yang, X.J., Li, L.L., Sang, W.L., Zhao, J.L., Wang, X.X., Yu, C., Zhang, X.H., Tang, C.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.02.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Ammonia; Ammonia borane; Atomic structure; Boron; Boron nitride; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical composition; Dispersion; Emission spectroscopy; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Hydrogen generation; Hydrolysis; Inductively coupled plasma; Nanoparticles; Ni catalysts; Nickel; Scanning electron microscopy; Sheets; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Nanoparticles; Boron nitride; Hydrogen generation; Ni catalysts; Ammonia borane
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.09.204

We report on Ni nanoparticles supported on boron nitride spheres (BNSP) and sheets (BNSH) as catalysts for hydrogen generation via hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB). The Ni/BN catalysts were prepared through a redox replacement reaction. The structure, morphology, and chemical composition of the obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). The characterization results showed that Ni nanoparticles were well dispersed on the BNSP and BNSH supports for the four Ni/BN catalysts prepared (Ni atomic contents of 6.8, 9.0, 9.2, and 12 wt%). The catalytic activity toward the hydrolysis of AB was found to correlate with the loading of the Ni/BN catalysts, which showed great cycle performance. Theoretical calculations revealed that BN sheets significantly influenced the electric character of Ni catalysts and thereby their catalytic properties. •The catalytic activities of Ni/BN is correlated with the loading of Ni content.•The catalytic activities of Ni/BN is much better than that of bare Ni.•The Ni/BN sheet catalysts show great cycle performance.•BN sheets influenced the electric character of Ni catalysts obviously.