Transition metal borides of Ni-B (Co-B) as alternative non-precious catalytic materials: Advances, potentials, and challenges. Short review

Abstract

This review gives a brief presentation of the types, structure, synthesis, and application of amorphous transition metal borides (Mt-B) in particular the bulk or supported nickel and cobalt borides (NiB and CoB). Mt-B materials are amorphous metal-metalloid alloys and constitute an important group of catalytic systems due to their special chemical and physical properties, including broad composition, structural homogeneity, and high concentration of coordination unsaturated sites. These features along with the relatively cheap and simple methods of synthesis make them interesting alternative catalytic materials for numerous new, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable yields and applications. Much attention has been paid to Mt-B as an interesting alternative to the industrially applied catalysts based on expensive and/or susceptible to sulphur poisoning, precious metals, and Raney nickel. Therefore, this review presents the application of Mt-B in different sectors: chemical production, energy storage/conversion, and environmental remediation. The current and future directions of research in this area are analysed.