title: Co-Co2B, Ni-Ni3B and Co-Ni-B nanocomposites catalyzed ammonia-borane methanolysis for hydrogen generation.
abstract: Co-Co(2)B and Ni-Ni(3)B nanocomposites were synthesized by the reduction of Co(2+) and Ni(2+) ions using ammonia-borane in methanol. The Co-Ni-B nanocomposite was synthesized by the co-reduction of Co(2+) and Ni(2+) ions. The catalytic activities of these metal nanocomposites were studied for the dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane in methanol. Three moles of H(2) were liberated in 2.5 min and 4.2 min in case of Co-Co(2)B and Ni-Ni(3)B nanocomposites, respectively (catalyst/AB = 0.2). The Co-Ni-B nanocomposite showed greater activity compared to individual metal-metal boride nanocomposites: 3 moles of H(2) were liberated in 1.5 min (catalyst/AB = 0.2). The catalysts were highly recyclable and the activities remained almost unchanged even after several cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic & Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560 012, India.
authors.forename: Suresh Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kalidindi
authors.forename: Amit Ashok
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vernekar
authors.forename: Balaji R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jagirdar