Monodisperse CoAgPd nanoparticles assembled on graphene for efficient hydrogen generation from formic acid at room temperature

Monodisperse trimetallic CoAgPd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a controlled co-reduction of cobalt (II) acetylacetonate , silver nitrate and palladium acetylacetonate in oleylamine at 90 °C using 2-methylpyridine borane as the reducing agents. This is the first time using amine borane as the reducing agent to synthesize non-noble metal contained monodisperse trimetallic alloy NPs at relatively low temperature. The 2.8 nm monodisperse CoAgPd NPs were further assembled on graphene by a simple solution-phase self-assembly method, and tested for catalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid at room temperature . Unexpectedly, the introducing of small amount of cobalt can significantly enhance the catalytic activity and selectivity.