FeCo alloy encapsulated within carbon nanotube as efficient and stable catalyst for ammonia borane hydrolysis

Abstract

Herein, commercial dicyandiamide was used as the pyrolysis precursor of carbon nanotubes. Co(NO3)2·6H2O and FeCl3 as non-precious metal precursors were mixed with dicyandiamide to in situ synthesize nitrogenated carbon nanotubes encapsulating Fe and Co nanoparticles via calcination under nitrogen atmosphere. The ratio of different metal species and thus the structure and properties of the final products were investigated in detail. As a result, the Fe0.4Co0.6-NCNTs exhibited optimal catalytic ammonia borane(AB) dyhydrogenation activity with the responding activation energy (Ea) calculated to be 19.89 KJ mol−1, and the TOF value calculated based on metals was 102 molH2 min−1 molcat−1, superior to most well-developed bimetal-based catalysts reported previously. The present method provides cost-effective, high efficiency, and stable materials in developing the sustainable energy conversion systems.