Ammonia-borane (AB) hydrolysis for the generation of hydrogen has been studied using first row transition metal ions, such as Co (2+), Ni (2+), and Cu (2+). In the cases of cobalt- and nickel-assisted AB hydrolysis, amorphous powders are formed that are highly catalytically active for hydrogen generation. Annealing of these amorphous powders followed by powder X-ray diffraction measurements revealed the presence of Co(0) and Co 2B and Ni(0) and Ni 3B, respectively. On the other hand, copper-assisted AB hydrolysis was catalyzed by in situ generated H (+) and Cu(0) nanoparticles. The reduction ability of AB for the realization of coinage metal nanoparticles from the respective metal salts has also been studied. These reduction reactions were found to be facile, affording colloids of pure metal nanoparticles. Nanoparticles prepared in this manner were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.