Polymer Hydrogel Supported Ni/Pd Alloys for Hydrogen Gas Production from Hydrolysis of Dimethylamine Borane with a Long Recyclable Lifetime

Hydrogen gas production can be produced from dimethylamine borane by the catalytic effect of metal nanoparticles. Past research efforts were heavily focused on dehydrogenation in organic solvents. In this study, hydrolysis of the borane in aqueous solutions was investigated, which bears two significant advantages: that two-thirds of the hydrogen generated originate from water and that the hydrogen storage materials are non-flammable. Polymer hydrogels serve as good carriers for metal particles as catalysts in aqueous solutions. Kinetic analysis of hydrogen production was performed for Ni/Pd bimetallic nanoclusters dispersed in a polymer hydrogel with a 3-D network structure. The reaction catalyzed by the bimetallic nanoclusters has an activation energy of only 34.95 kJ/mol, considerably lower than that by Ni or other metal catalysts reported. A significant synergistic effect was observed in the Ni/Pd bimetallic catalysts (Ni–Pd = 20/1) with a higher activity than Pd or Ni alone. This proves the alloy nature of the nanoparticles in the borane hydrolysis and the activation of water and borane by both metals to break the O–H and B–H bonds. The hydrogel with the Ni/Pd metal can be recycled with a much longer lifetime than all the previously prepared catalysts. The aqueous borane solutions with a polymer hydrogel can become a more sustainable hydrogen supplier for long-term use.