Hierarchical porous CuNi-based bimetal-organic frameworks as efficient catalysts for ammonia borane hydrolysis

Ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) hydrolysis is an effective strategy to utilize hydrogen energy. In this work, the hierarchical porous CuNi bimetal-organic frameworks (CuNi-MOFs) are fabricated through a facile solvothermal method and characterized by various techniques. The CuNi-MOFs display outstanding catalytic activity and remarkable durability for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB. The corresponding turnover frequency reaches 40.85 molH2 · molMetal−1 · min−1 and the apparent activation energy (28.99 kJ mol−1) is lower than those of many catalysts previously reported. The results verify the resultant CuNi-MOFs are promising for the hydrolysis of hydrogen storage materials.