Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers supported Ag/Pd nanoparticles for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Abstract

A high-performance hydrogen generation system based on the electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/Ag/Pd composite nanofibers, which were prepared by microwave reducing the electrospun PAN/AgNO3 nanofibers and followed by a replacement reaction has been demonstrated. The morphology of the as-prepared PAN/Ag/Pd composite nanofibers and the metal nanoparticles on the fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. It has been demonstrated that the obtained PAN/Ag/Pd composite nanofibers possess fine morphology and high catalytic activities for H2 generation from aqueous solution of ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB). The H2 generation test exhibited that the catalyst had excellent catalytic activity (with turnover frequency (TOF) of 377.2 mol H2 h−1 (mol Pd)−1), good recycle stability and easy-separation from the reaction system. This new kind of nanofibers possesses great potential application for the new clean energy development.