Ultrafast hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane catalyzed by highly efficient bimetallic RuNi nanoparticles stabilized on Ti3C2X2 (X = OH and/or F)

Graphene-like transition metal carbide [Ti 3 C 2 X 2 (X = OH and/or F)]-supported RuNi bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from the co-reduction of ruthenium chloride and nickel chloride with Ti 3 C 2 X 2 as a stabilizer and carrier. Ti 3 C 2 X 2 -supported RuNi NPs were well dispersed in aqueous solution. The as-synthesized composites were applied as catalysts in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB), which is a promising solid-state hydrogen storage material for portable fuel cell application . Results indicated that the RuNi/Ti 3 C 2 X 2 catalyst was highly active for the hydrolysis of AB at room temperature , with the highest turnover frequency number of 824.7 mol H 2 ·(mol Ru·min) −1 . The activation energy for the hydrolysis of AB in the aqueous phase reached 25.7 kJ/mol, which was lower than most of the reported values.