Tungsten(VI) oxide supported rhodium nanoparticles: Highly active catalysts in hydrogen generation from ammonia borane

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.01.156
• Publication Date: 2021-02-18T03:43:02Z
• Authors: Serdar Akbayrak; Yalçın Tonbul; Saim Özkar
• Keywords: Rhodium nanoparticles; Catalytic hydrolysis; Ammonia borane; 02 engineering and technology; Tungsten(VI) oxide; Hydrogen generation; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract Herein, we report the use of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO3) as support for Rh0 nanoparticles. The resulting Rh0/WO3 nanoparticles are highly active and stable catalysts in H2 generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). We present the results of our investigation on the particle size distribution, catalytic activity and stability of Rh0/WO3 catalysts with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% wt. Rh loadings in the hydrolysis reaction. The results reveal that Rh0/WO3 (0.5% wt. Rh) is very promising catalyst providing a turnover frequency of 749 min−1 in releasing 3.0 equivalent H2 per mole of AB from the hydrolysis at 25.0 °C. The high catalytic activity of Rh0/WO3 catalyst is attributed to the reducible nature of support. The report covers the results of kinetics study as well as comparative investigation of activity, recyclability, and reusability of colloidal(0) nanoparticles and Rh0/WO3 (0.5 % wt. Rh) catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction.