In situ facile synthesis of Ru-based core-shell nanoparticles supported on carbon black and their high catalytic activity in the dehydrogenation of amine-boranes

Abstract

Well-dispersed core-shell Ru@M (M=Co, Ni, Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carbon black have been synthesized via a facile in situ one-step procedure under ambient condition. Core-shell Ru@Co NPs were synthesized and characterized for the first time. The as-synthesized Ru@Co and Ru@Ni NPs exhibit superior catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane compared with their monometallic and alloy counterparts. The Ru@Co/C NPs are the most reactive, with a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 320 (mol H2 min-1) molRu-1 and activation energy (Ea) of 21.16 kJ mol-1. Ru@Ni/C NPs are the next most active, whereas Ru@Fe/C NPs are almost inactive. Additionally, the as-synthesized NPs supported on carbon black exhibit higher catalytic activity than catalysts on other conventional supports, such as SiO2 and γ-Al2O3. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.