A solid-state system for controllable hydrogen release: ammonia borane encapsulated in a catalyst-loaded graphene...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Precise control over hydrogen release is essential for on-demand hydrogen energy utilization.
• Current hydrogen storage methods face challenges in achieving efficient and controllable release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel solid-state hydrogen storage system with switchable hydrogen generation.
• To investigate the use of ammonia borane and a cobalt catalyst within a graphene aerogel for controlled hydrogen release.
• To establish a generalizable strategy for catalyst-loaded porous materials in hydrogen generation.

Main Methods:

• Loading ammonia borane (AB) and a cobalt catalyst into a graphene aerogel (AB@Co/RGOA).
• Characterization of the composite material using various techniques.
• Testing the switchable hydrogen production by modulating water supply.
• Evaluating the catalytic activity and reusability of the cobalt catalyst.

Main Results:

• Uniform dispersion of Co nanoparticles and effective encapsulation of AB within the graphene aerogel.
• Demonstration of switchable hydrogen production initiated and halted by water supply.
• The catalyst (Co/RGOA) remained intact and reusable after AB consumption.
• High catalytic activity (TOF of 109.63 min⁻¹ at 25 °C) and over 90% activity retention after five cycles.

Conclusions:

• The AB@Co/RGOA system provides a viable approach for managing hydrogen release for on-demand applications.
• The developed system offers a reusable and controllable method for hydrogen generation via water-mediated hydrolysis.
• This work presents a generalizable strategy for designing catalyst-loaded porous materials for controlled hydrogen production.