Tuning the Surface Composition of Ni/meso-CeO2 with Iridium as an Efficient Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation from Hydrous Hydrazine.

Abstract

Selective decomposition of hydrous hydrazine (N2 H4 ⋅H2 O) over metal catalysts provides a promising means for onboard or portable hydrogen source applications. Studies on N2 H4 ⋅H2 O decomposition catalysts mainly focus on the effects of bulk composition and structure on their performances, instead of the surface-composition-dependent properties. Herein, the synthesis of an Ir-modified Ni/meso-CeO2 catalyst is reported by using a combination of colloidal solution combustion synthesis and galvanic replacement methods. A combination of structural characterization, control experiments, and DFT calculations reveals that the Ni-Ir alloy resulting from calcination treatment exerts a profound effect on the catalytic properties. The resulting Ni@Ni-Ir/meso-CeO2 catalyst shows excellent catalytic performance towards hydrogen generation from N2 H4 ⋅H2 O, which compares favorably with the Ni-Ir bimetallic catalysts reported to date.