Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis

In this study, bimetallic NiCo nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated within the mesopores of carboxylic acid functionalized mesoporous silica (CMS) through the chemical reduction approach. Both NaBH<sub>4</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>BH<sub>3</sub> were used as reducin...

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Main Authors: Juti Rani Deka, Diganta Saikia, Ning-Fang Lu, Chieh-Yu Chen, Hsien-Ming Kao, Yung-Chin Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1818
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author Juti Rani Deka
Diganta Saikia
Ning-Fang Lu
Chieh-Yu Chen
Hsien-Ming Kao
Yung-Chin Yang
author_facet Juti Rani Deka
Diganta Saikia
Ning-Fang Lu
Chieh-Yu Chen
Hsien-Ming Kao
Yung-Chin Yang
author_sort Juti Rani Deka
collection DOAJ
description In this study, bimetallic NiCo nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated within the mesopores of carboxylic acid functionalized mesoporous silica (CMS) through the chemical reduction approach. Both NaBH<sub>4</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>BH<sub>3</sub> were used as reducing agents to reduce the metal ions simultaneously. The resulting composite was used as a catalyst for hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH<sub>3</sub>BH<sub>3</sub>, AB) to produce H<sub>2</sub>. The bimetallic NiCo NPs supported on carboxylic group functionalized mesoporous silica, referred to as Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS, exhibited significantly higher catalytic activity for AB hydrolysis compared to their monometallic counterparts. The remarkable activity of Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS could be ascribed to the synergistic contributions of Ni and Co, redox reaction during the hydrolysis, and the fine-tuned electronic structure. The catalytic performance of the Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS nanocatalyst was observed to be dependent on the composition of Ni and Co. Among all the compositions investigated, Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS demonstrated the highest catalytic activity, with a turn over frequency (TOF) of 18.95 mol<sub>H2</sub>min<sup>−1</sup>mol<sub>catalyst</sub><sup>−1</sup> and H<sub>2</sub> production rate of 8.0 L min<sup>−1</sup>g<sup>−1</sup>. The activity of Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS was approximately three times greater than that of Ni@CMS and about two times that of Co@CMS. The superior activity of Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS was attributed to its finely-tuned electronic structure, resulting from the electron transfer of Ni to Co. Furthermore, the nanocatalyst exhibited excellent durability, as the carboxylate group in the support provided a strong metal–support interaction, securely anchoring the NPs within the mesopores, preventing both agglomeration and leakage.
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-5551afba89fe4e979e3ffbdb5b163e1d2025-08-20T02:48:06ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-11-011422181810.3390/nano14221818Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane HydrolysisJuti Rani Deka0Diganta Saikia1Ning-Fang Lu2Chieh-Yu Chen3Hsien-Ming Kao4Yung-Chin Yang5Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106344, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, National Central University, Zhongli 320317, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, National Central University, Zhongli 320317, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, National Central University, Zhongli 320317, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, National Central University, Zhongli 320317, TaiwanInstitute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106344, TaiwanIn this study, bimetallic NiCo nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated within the mesopores of carboxylic acid functionalized mesoporous silica (CMS) through the chemical reduction approach. Both NaBH<sub>4</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>BH<sub>3</sub> were used as reducing agents to reduce the metal ions simultaneously. The resulting composite was used as a catalyst for hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH<sub>3</sub>BH<sub>3</sub>, AB) to produce H<sub>2</sub>. The bimetallic NiCo NPs supported on carboxylic group functionalized mesoporous silica, referred to as Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS, exhibited significantly higher catalytic activity for AB hydrolysis compared to their monometallic counterparts. The remarkable activity of Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS could be ascribed to the synergistic contributions of Ni and Co, redox reaction during the hydrolysis, and the fine-tuned electronic structure. The catalytic performance of the Ni<sub>x</sub>Co<sub>100−x</sub>@CMS nanocatalyst was observed to be dependent on the composition of Ni and Co. Among all the compositions investigated, Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS demonstrated the highest catalytic activity, with a turn over frequency (TOF) of 18.95 mol<sub>H2</sub>min<sup>−1</sup>mol<sub>catalyst</sub><sup>−1</sup> and H<sub>2</sub> production rate of 8.0 L min<sup>−1</sup>g<sup>−1</sup>. The activity of Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS was approximately three times greater than that of Ni@CMS and about two times that of Co@CMS. The superior activity of Ni<sub>40</sub>Co<sub>60</sub>@CMS was attributed to its finely-tuned electronic structure, resulting from the electron transfer of Ni to Co. Furthermore, the nanocatalyst exhibited excellent durability, as the carboxylate group in the support provided a strong metal–support interaction, securely anchoring the NPs within the mesopores, preventing both agglomeration and leakage.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1818bimetallic NiCo nanoparticlesmesoporous silicananocatalystammonia borane hydrolysishydrogen generation
spellingShingle Juti Rani Deka
Diganta Saikia
Ning-Fang Lu
Chieh-Yu Chen
Hsien-Ming Kao
Yung-Chin Yang
Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
Nanomaterials
bimetallic NiCo nanoparticles
mesoporous silica
nanocatalyst
ammonia borane hydrolysis
hydrogen generation
title Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
title_full Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
title_fullStr Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
title_full_unstemmed Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
title_short Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles Embedded in Organic Group Functionalized Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis
title_sort bimetallic nico nanoparticles embedded in organic group functionalized mesoporous silica for efficient hydrogen production from ammonia borane hydrolysis
topic bimetallic NiCo nanoparticles
mesoporous silica
nanocatalyst
ammonia borane hydrolysis
hydrogen generation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1818
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