Direct observation of low-temperature catalytic decomposition of H3BO3 shell in core/shell Ni/H3BO3 nanoparticles

Decomposition of H3BO3 to B2O3 in core/shell Ni/H3BO3 nanoparticles was in situ recorded by transmission electron microscope as the irradiation time. The direct observation provides compelling evidence of the synergetic effect of the Ni core and the H3BO3 shell, revealing the catalytic mechanisms of metal nanostructures that induce the decomposition at 124 °C, lower than the bulk counterpart at 300 °C. This phenomenon can be theoretically explained by considering the weakening of B–O bond at the Ni–H3BO3 interface, and has important implications in understanding the lubricant behavior of H3BO3 in frictional wear.