Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Hydrogen Generation on Bimetallic CoCu Catalysts: Regulation of Synergistic Effect

The hydrolysis of ammonia borane is secure and promising for producing and employing hydrogen in mild conditions. Synthesis of bimetallic catalysts is an efficient way to boost the hydrogen generation rate. The regulation and control of synergistic effect is a key role for rational design of bimetallic catalysts with high performance. Herein, the bimetallic CoCu catalysts were prepared using co-reduction and sequential reduction methods, respectively, to control the ratio and distribution of Co and Cu. The as-prepared catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic performance due to the synergistic effect between Co and Cu, and the appropriate ratio of Co and Cu was studied. The distribution of Co and Cu in catalysts have the significant influence on the catalytic performance in AB hydrolysis. The stronger interaction between Co and Cu in Co1Cu1/g-C3N4, in which Cu is in intimate contact with Co, optimized the electronic structure of catalyst surface and facilitated the reaction process. Therefore, the hydrogen generation rate over Co1Cu1/g-C3N4 was much higher than that over the catalysts prepared by the sequential reduction method. This work provides a fundament understanding of the structure-activity relationships of catalysts, and the essential insights into the preparation of catalysts for hydrogen generation.