Hydrogen generation of single alloy Pd/Pt quantum dots over Co(3)O(4) nanoparticles via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride at room temperature

To satisfy global energy demands and decrease the level of atmospheric greenhouse gases, alternative clean energy sources are required. Hydrogen is one of the most promising clean energy sources due to its high chemical energy density and near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. A single alloyed phase of Pd/Pt nanoclusters as quantum dots (QDs) was prepared and loaded over Co(3)O(4) nanoparticles with a low loading percentage (1 wt.%) for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of NaBH(4) at room temperature. L-glutathione (SG) was used as a capping ligand. It was found that the single alloy catalyst (Pd(0.5)–Pt(0.5))(n)(SG)(m)/Co(3)O(4) caused a significant enhancement in hydrogen generation in comparison to the monometallic clusters (Pd(n)(SG)(m) and Pt(n)(SG)(m)). Moreover, the Pd/Pt alloy showed a positive synergistic effect compared to the physical mixture of Pd and Pt clusters (1:1) over Co(3)O(4). The QDs alloy and monometallic Pd and Pt clusters exhibited well-dispersed particle size in ~ 1 nm. The (Pd(0.5)–Pt(0.5))(n)(SG)(m))/Co(3)O(4) catalyst offers a high hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 8333 mL min(− 1) g(− 1) at room temperature. The synergistic effect of Pd and Pt atoms in the nanoclusters alloy is the key point beyond this high activity, plus the prepared clusters' unique atomic packing structure and electronic properties. The effect of the NaBH(4) concentration, catalyst amount, and reaction temperature (25–60 °C) were investigated, where HGR reaches 50 L min(− 1) g(− 1) at 60 °C under the same reaction conditions. The prepared catalysts were analyzed by UV–Vis, TGA, HR-TEM, XRD, and N(2) adsorption/desorption techniques. The charge state of the Pd and Pt in monometallic and alloy nanoclusters is zero, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The catalysts showed high recyclability efficiency for at least five cycles due to the high leaching resistance of the alloy nanoclusters within the Co(3)O(4) host. The prepared catalysts are highly efficient for energy-based applications.