Cu@Ni/MoO3 core-shell catalyst for high efficiency methanolysis of hydrazine borane

Hydrazine borane (N 2 H 4 BH 3 ) has been recognized as an attractive hydrogen storage material owing to its high hydrogen capacity of 15.4 wt%. However, the methanolysis of N 2 H 4 BH 3 remains a challenge, as only BH 3 moiety of N 2 H 4 BH 3 can be utilized to produce H 2 . In the present work, we reported an efficient Cu@Ni/MoO 3 core–shell catalyst that is capable of fully utilizing the H atoms on both BH 3 and N 2 H 4 moieties of N 2 H 4 BH 3 via methanolysis, releasing 5.5 equivalents of gas at 50 °C. This study represents the most efficient catalyst for methanolysis of N 2 H 4 BH 3 reported to date. The improved catalytic activity of Cu@Ni/MoO 3 catalyst may be attributed to the collective improvement on the catalyst, which includes increased specific surface area of the catalyst, formation of an electron deficient Cu@Ni catalyst surface induced by MoO 3 and favorable reacting environment involving KOH as a catalyst promoter. The development of low-cost and highly efficient catalysts may encourage the application of N 2 H 4 BH 3 as a promising hydrogen storage material.