Water soluble laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters catalyst for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane: High activity and long lifetime

The simplest amine-borane, considered as solid hydrogen storage material, ammonia-borane (H3NBH3) can release hydrogen gas upon catalytic hydrolysis under mild conditions. Herein, we report the preparation of a novel catalyst, water dispersible laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters from the dimethylamine-borane reduction of ruthenium(III) chloride in sodium laurate solution at room temperature. The ruthenium nanoclusters in average size of 2.6 +/- 1.2 nm were isolated from the solution and well characterized by using TEM, XPS, FTIR, and UV-visible electronic absorption spectroscopy, The water dispersible laurate-stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters were found to be highly active and long-live catalyst with a TOF of 75 mol H-2/mol Ru.min and TTO value of 5900 mol H-2/mol Ru in the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C.(C) 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.