Sign in Subscribe
Nanotechnology

Graphene-Supported Nanoparticles Show Enhanced Catalysis for Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Shanghai University have discovered a new matrix material made from graphene-supported NiCl2 and CoCl2 nanoparticles that exhibits enhanced catalysis for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB). This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of efficient hydrogen storage systems. The study, published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, found that the NiCl2 and CoCl2 nanoparticles, with sizes around 3-10 nm, dispersed uniformly on the surface of graphene, showed a much lower onset dehydrogenation temperature of 60-90 degrees C compared to pristine AB.

Key Takeaways:

  • The graphene-supported NiCl2 and CoCl2 nanoparticles catalyst exhibited a much lower onset dehydrogenation temperature of 60-90 degrees C compared to pristine AB.
  • The AB@NiCl2/CoCl2-graphene system showed effective suppression of byproducts such as ammonia, diborane, and borazine formations compared to pristine AB.
  • The activation energy of AB@NiCl2/CoCl2-graphene was calculated to explore the improvement of dehydrogenation kinetics of AB under the existence of graphene-supported NiCl2 or CoCl2 nanoparticles.
  • The researchers obtained the NiCl2 and CoCl2 nanoparticles with sizes around 3-10 nm and dispersed uniformly on the surface of graphene.
  • The synthesis of the graphene-supported NiCl2 and CoCl2 nanoparticles involved loading ammonia borane (AB) on the NiCl2/CoCl2-graphene scaffold.
  • The study was conducted by W.W. Sun, H. Li, and Y. Wang from Shanghai University.

Statistics:

  • Onset dehydrogenation temperature: 60-90 degrees C
  • Activation energy of AB@NiCl2/CoCl2-graphene: Known to improve dehydrogenation kinetics of AB.
  • Particle size: 3-10 nm
  • Byproducts suppression: Ammonia, diborane, and borazine formations were suppressed.

Sources:

  • Graphene-supported nickel chloride and cobalt chloride nanoparticles as highly efficient catalysts for dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015;40(45):15389-15397.
  • International Journal of Hydrogen Energy can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; International Journal of Hydrogen Energy - www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-hydrogen-energy/)
  • Shanghai University can be contacted at: W.W. Sun, Shanghai Univ, Sch Environm & Chem Engn, Dept. of Chem Engn, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China.

Read more