Fabrication of RuCo bimetallic catalyst enabling efficient hydrogen generation via ammonia borane hydrolysis

Abstract

Ammonia borane (NH₃BH₃) is an ideal solid hydrogen storage material, and its dehydrogenation through hydrolysis reaction has attracted growing interest. However, the key challenge in ammonia borane hydrolysis is the development of an efficient and low-cost catalyst. In this work, RuCo nanoparticles supported on tungsten carbide (RuCo/WC) were synthesized via the impregnation method. Among catalysts with varying Ru/Co mass ratios, Ru₁Co₁/WC exhibited the highest catalytic activity for NH₃BH₃ hydrolysis in alkaline solution at 298 K, achieving a r_H2 of 1729 mol_H2⋅mol_Ru^-1⋅min⁻¹ and an activation energy (E_a) value of 34.7 kJ⋅mol⁻¹, competitive with state-of-the-art Ru-based catalysts. The enhanced activity originates from (i) electron transfer between Ru and Co due to their electronegativity difference and (ii) strong metal–support interactions between RuCo nanoparticles and WC. Specifically, the Ru–Co synergy facilitates NH₃BH₃ activation, while WC promotes H₂O dissociation.