Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 Nanocomposites, Morphology, Controlled Synthesis, and Catalytic Performance in the Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Hydrogen Production

The catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB) is a promising route to produce hydrogen for mobile hydrogen‒oxygen fuel cells. In this study, we have successfully synthesized a variety of Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanocomposites with different morphology, including nanoplatelets, nanoparticles, and urchin-like microspheres. The catalytic performance of those Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 composites in AB hydrolysis is investigated. The Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanoplatelets show the best catalytic performance despite having the smallest specific surface area, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 80.2 molhydrogen·min−1·mol−1cat. The results reveal that, in contrast to the Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanoparticles and microspheres, the Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanoplatelets are more readily reduced, leading to the fast formation of active species for AB hydrolysis. These findings provide some insight into the design of high-performance oxide-based catalysts for AB hydrolysis. Considering their low cost and high catalytic activity, Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanoplatelets are a strong candidate catalyst for the production of hydrogen through AB hydrolysis in practical applications.