Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Achieved a turnover frequency (TOF) of 57.23 min−1 for ammonia borane hydrolysis at 298 K, outperforming many non-noble metal catalysts and approaching noble metal benchmarks, indicating high intrinsic activity for practical hydrogen production. • • Apparent activation energy of 44.31 kJ/mol, which is low enough to enable efficient hydrogen release under mild conditions, reducing energy input for industrial processes. • • The catalyst follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to catalyst amount and pseudo-zero-order kinetics with respect to AB concentration, enabling predictable scaling and reactor design. • • The synthesis uses low-cost copper chloride and sodium hypophosphite via solvothermal and low-temperature phosphating (573 K, 2 h), offering a scalable, cost-effective route for catalyst production, critical for industrial adoption.
Abstract
Ammonia borane (AB) is a promising hydrogen storage material due to its low molecular weight and high hydrogen content. The development of low-cost, high-activity catalysts for AB hydrolysis is critical for industrialization. In this work, CuO nanosheets (CuO NS) were synthesized via a solvothermal method under alkaline conditions using anhydrous copper chloride as precursor. Subsequently, low-temperature phosphating converted CuO NS into Cu3P@CuO nanosheets (Cu3P@CuO NS). The morphology and structure were characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, XRD, and XPS. The catalytic performance for AB hydrolysis was evaluated, revealing that at a phosphating ratio of m(CuO NS)/m(NaH2PO2)=1 (0.1 g each), Cu3P@CuO NS exhibited excellent activity with a TOF of 57.23 min−1 and an apparent activation energy of 44.31 kJ/mol. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to catalyst amount and pseudo-zero-order kinetics with respect to AB concentration. The superior performance is attributed to the abundant active sites exposed by the nanosheet structure. Given the extremely low cost, Cu3P@CuO NS is a promising alternative to noble metal catalysts for hydrogen generation from AB.
1. Introduction
Ammonia borane (AB) has emerged as a leading candidate for chemical hydrogen storage due to its high gravimetric hydrogen content (19.6 wt%) and stability under ambient conditions. However, its hydrolysis requires efficient catalysts to release hydrogen at practical rates. Noble metal catalysts such as Pt and Ru exhibit high activity but suffer from prohibitive costs and scarcity, hindering large-scale deployment. Transition metal phosphides have recently gained attention as low-cost alternatives, yet their catalytic performance often lags behind noble metals, and synthesis methods can be complex or energy-intensive.
This work addresses the bottleneck by developing a Cu3P@CuO nanosheet catalyst via a simple two-step process: solvothermal synthesis of CuO nanosheets followed by low-temperature phosphating. The resulting heterostructure exposes abundant active sites, achieving a TOF of 57.23 min−1 and an activation energy of 44.31 kJ/mol, which are competitive with noble metal systems. The use of earth-abundant copper and a scalable synthesis route positions this catalyst as a viable candidate for industrial AB hydrolysis, potentially enabling cost-effective hydrogen generation for fuel cell applications.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
REN Wenting, CHEN Leiyun, SHEN Jiabei, XIE Jing, ZHAO Yudie, XU Lixin, WAN Chao (2026). Cu3P@CuO Nanosheet Catalyst for Efficient Hydrolytic Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane. Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology. https://doi.org/10.3724/2097-213X.2025.JFCT.0020
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the long-term stability of Cu3P@CuO NS under repeated hydrolysis cycles, and how does it compare to noble metal catalysts?
The paper does not report cycling stability data. However, the catalyst's TOF of 57.23 min−1 and activation energy of 44.31 kJ/mol suggest good intrinsic activity. For industrial application, stability over multiple cycles is critical; further studies are needed to assess deactivation due to by-product accumulation or structural changes.
How does the catalytic performance of Cu3P@CuO NS compare to state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts in terms of TOF and cost?
The TOF of 57.23 min−1 is competitive with some noble metal catalysts, but direct comparison requires standardized conditions. The cost advantage is significant: copper and sodium hypophosphite are inexpensive compared to Pt or Ru, making Cu3P@CuO NS a more economical choice for large-scale hydrogen production.
What is the scalability potential of the synthesis method for industrial production?
The synthesis involves solvothermal and low-temperature phosphating steps, which are scalable. The use of anhydrous copper chloride and NaH2PO2 is cost-effective. However, the paper does not provide yield or scale-up data; pilot-scale studies are necessary to evaluate process economics and reproducibility.
What are the possible deactivation mechanisms under prolonged operation, and how can they be mitigated?
Potential deactivation mechanisms include poisoning by borate by-products, sintering of Cu3P nanoparticles, or oxidation of the catalyst surface. The nanosheet structure may mitigate sintering, but surface oxidation could reduce activity. Regeneration strategies or protective coatings might be needed, though not addressed in this study.
How does the catalyst perform under varying temperatures and AB concentrations, and what are the optimal operating conditions?
The study reports an activation energy of 44.31 kJ/mol, indicating strong temperature dependence. Kinetics are pseudo-first-order in catalyst and pseudo-zero-order in AB, meaning hydrogen production rate is independent of AB concentration once sufficient AB is present. Optimal conditions likely involve moderate temperatures (around 298 K) and catalyst loadings that balance rate and cost.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Recent Advances in Carbon-Based Materials for CO2 Capture and Utilization
CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are critical for mitigating global warming and promoting resource circularity. Carbon-based materials, with tunable pore structures, abundant active sites, high specific surface area, and excellent chemical stability, show significant potential for CO2 capture and conversion. This review systematically analyzes the adsorption behaviors and performance variations of activated carbon, porous carbon, graphene, and carbon nanotubes in CO2 capture. For utilization, recent advances in catalytic applications for methanation, reverse water-gas shift (RWGS), dry reforming of methane (DRM), and alcohol synthesis are emphasized. The benefits and drawbacks of carbon materials regarding adsorption capacity, catalytic activity, and stability are evaluated, and their potential in integrated CCU technologies is discussed. Key strategies for enhancing performance through structural modulation and surface modification are elucidated. This review provides theoretical guidance for future development and large-scale implementation of carbon-based materials in CCU.
Fabrication and Microwave Absorption Performance of FexOy/TiO2/C Composites Derived from Red Mud
Red mud, an industrial solid waste from alumina production, poses severe environmental challenges. This study presents a resource-efficient strategy to convert red mud into high-performance microwave absorbing materials. FexOy/TiO2/C composites were synthesized via a sol-gel method using starch as carbon source, followed by carbothermal reduction. The phase composition and microstructure were optimized by adjusting calcination temperature and raw material ratio. The optimal sample, RmCT-5.4-700, exhibited a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -30.2 dB at 14.0 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.3 GHz at a coating thickness of 2.0 mm. The superior absorption performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of dielectric components (TiO2, graphitized carbon) and magnetic components (Fe3O4/Fe). Carbothermal reduction introduces defects that induce dipole polarization, while the conductive network formed by graphitized carbon and Fe3O4/Fe particles enhances conductive loss. Heterogeneous interfaces between Fe3O4, Fe, TiO2, and the red mud matrix promote interfacial polarization. The magnetic loss of Fe3O4/Fe improves impedance matching, facilitating electromagnetic wave penetration and absorption. This work not only provides a novel route for red mud valorization but also contributes to the high-value utilization of solid wastes.
Damage Mechanism of High Chromia Refractory in the Slag Tapping Hole of Commercial Entrained-Flow Gasifiers
The service life of refractory bricks in the slag tapping hole of entrained-flow gasifiers is a critical bottleneck for long-term stable operation. This study investigated the damage mechanism of high chromia refractories in four commercial coal-water slurry gasifiers by analyzing gasification coal samples and corroded refractory bricks. Slag characteristics, including crystallization and viscosity-temperature behavior, were evaluated. Results revealed that low-viscosity slag induces more severe refractory damage. To mitigate slag crystallization risk, a safe slag tapping temperature range is recommended as tICT−t2.5 when tICT exceeds t25. Interior morphology of corroded bricks exhibited cracks, primarily attributed to molten slag penetration and subsequent reactions with refractory material. SEM-EDS analysis of slag-aggregate and slag-matrix interfaces identified reduction in Cr2O3 content as the earliest damage characteristic. XRD detected no zirconium-containing spinel in cracks, indicating that thermal expansion mismatch between newly formed phases and the refractory matrix drives crack propagation. A damage mechanism is proposed: initial Cr2O3 depletion compromises both matrix and aggregate, facilitating slag ingress and new phase formation, ultimately leading to structural failure. Early detection or prevention of Cr2O3 reduction is essential to prolong refractory service life.
Research advances in the pyrolysis recycling of waste wind turbine blades
The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with wind energy gaining increasing prominence due to its clean and renewable nature. However, as installed wind power capacity expands, disposal of waste wind turbine blades (WWTB) has emerged as a significant challenge. These blades are predominantly composed of epoxy resin (EP) polymers, carbon fibers (CFs), and glass fibers (GFs). Improper disposal exacerbates environmental concerns and leads to loss of valuable resources, particularly carbon-based materials. Pyrolysis technology, a versatile and environmentally sustainable method for resource recovery, has garnered considerable attention for WWTB disposal. This work presents a comprehensive review of pyrolytic recycling of WWTB, focusing on principles and classifications of pyrolysis technology, key factors influencing the pyrolysis process, as well as pyrolysis methods, equipment, products, and their applications. Through in-depth analysis of current research, this review identifies critical unresolved issues and provides a forward-looking perspective on emerging research trends. The review highlights that pyrolysis can effectively recover glass fibers and carbon fibers with mechanical property retention depending on process conditions, and that catalytic pyrolysis can enhance the quality of recovered products. Economic analysis indicates that collaborative disposal methods can improve cost-effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing process parameters for large-scale industrial application and developing more efficient catalysts to improve product selectivity and fiber quality.
Citric Acid-Modified HUSY Zeolite Catalyzes Alkylation of Phenol with Cyclohexanol for High-Density Aviation Fuel Precursors
Lignin-derived oxygenated aromatics, particularly phenols and aromatic ethers, are promising feedstocks for synthesizing high-density, high-heat-sink aviation fuels via alkylation-hydrogenation processes. This study systematically evaluates the catalytic performance of various zeolites (Hβ, HZSM-5, MCM-41, and HUSY) in the alkylation of phenol with cyclohexanol. Characterization demonstrates that HUSY zeolite exhibits superior catalytic activity due to its favorable pore architecture and well-balanced acid site distribution, which synergistically facilitate molecular diffusion and catalytic transformations. To further enhance catalytic properties, HUSY was modified with citric acid at various concentrations and compared with NaOH and oxalic acid treatments. Results reveal that citric acid treatment preserves crystallinity while modulating acidity and pore structure. All modified zeolites enhance phenol alkylation activity. Notably, HUSY-0.5M, exhibiting the highest medium-strong acid to total acid ratio, achieves superior performance: 80.4% phenol conversion and 99.6% selectivity for alkylation products. The catalyst also shows high activity for various lignin-derived compounds (p-cresol, anisole, guaiacol), demonstrating broad applicability. This work provides a new strategy for valorizing lignin-derived phenols into high-value fuel precursors through alkylation.
Hydrogen Production and Structure Evolution Mechanism during Thermochemical Conversion of Microalgae Pellet in Molten Hydroxide Salts
This study investigates the thermochemical conversion behavior of microalgae pellets in a molten hydroxide salt (80% NaOH-20% Na2CO3) system and its influence on hydrogen production. By comparing temperature evolution, gas release characteristics, and structural evolution of pellets with and without molten salt, and integrating char alkalization experiments, the regulatory mechanism of molten salt on reaction pathways and hydrogen production was systematically analyzed. Results indicate that molten salt significantly enhances internal heat transfer efficiency, achieving a central heating rate of 177 °C/s, effectively alleviating thermal hysteresis. Concurrently, molten salt promotes pore development through penetration, erosion, and catalytic effects, resulting in a porosity increase of 53.2%–104.3% after 10 s of reaction. Conversion efficiency is markedly improved, with the dominant reaction pathway shifting to char alkalization after only 70 s. Furthermore, when heating rate is increased above 600 °C, hydrogen yield from char alkalization improves more significantly, primarily attributed to the synergistic promotion of molten salt catalysis and rapid heating on volatiles reforming. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding efficient hydrogen production from biomass in molten hydroxide salts.