MIL-101 supported CeOx-modified NiPt nanoparticles as a highly efficient catalyst toward complete dehydrogenation of hydrazine borane

The high hydrogen content and excellent stability at room temperature promote hydrazine borane (HB, N2H4BH3) as a promising chemical hydrogen storage material. However, the development of highly efficient and selective catalysts remains a challenge for the practical use of HB as a hydrogen source. In this work, NiPt-CeOx nanoparticles anchored on MIL-101 support are successfully synthesized by a facile wet impregnation reduction method at room temperature. The as-synthesized Ni0.9Pt0.1-CeOx/MIL-101 catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity, 100% conversion rate, 100% hydrogen selectivity and outstanding recycling stability for hydrogen production from HB under alkaline conditions. A high turnover frequency (TOF) value of 2951.1 h(-1) is achieved at 323 K even when the content of Ni is up to 90%, which is much higher than most reported non-noble-metal-containing catalysts for HB dehydrogenation. Such excellent performance may be attributed to the well-dispersed ultrafine NiPt-CeOx nanoparticles (3.35 nm) anchored by MIL-101, the unique amorphous/low crystallinity structure and the electron synergistic effect between different metals. Additionally, the presence of NaOH can promote the difficult breaking of the N-H bond during the interaction between HB and the surface of Ni0.9Pt0.1-CeOx, thus further improving the efficiency of HB decomposition. This easily prepared, highly active, and low-cost catalyst can promote the practical application of HB as a potential hydrogen storage material.