Surfactant-aided synthesis of RhCo nanoclusters as highly effective and recyclable catalysts for the hydrolysis of methylamine borane and dimethylamine borane

Tunç N., Rakap M.

Catalysis Science & Technology, vol.10, pp.7865-7874, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1039/d0cy01472a
  • Journal Name: Catalysis Science & Technology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex
  • Page Numbers: pp.7865-7874
  • Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In the present study, the first ever and easy surfactant-aided synthesis of hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium

bromide-stabilized RhCo nanoclusters (Rh0.63Co0.37@CTAB) and their employment as highly efficient,

relatively cost-saving, and recyclable catalysts to generate hydrogen from the hydrolysis reactions of

methylamine borane (MeAB) and dimethylamine borane (DMAB) are reported. The easy synthesis of Rh0.63-

Co0.37@CTAB nanoclusters is accomplished by synchronous reduction of appropriate rhodium and cobalt

salts by sodium borohydride in the presence of CTAB as a surfactant in aqueous solution at room

temperature. The Rh0.63Co0.37@CTAB nanoclusters are characterized by some techniques like ultravioletvisible

electronic absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray

photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). They provide very remarkable turnover frequencies (TOFs) of 107.1

min−1 and 142.9 min−1 (8571.4 h−1, best ever value) in the hydrolysis of MeAB and DMAB, respectively, even

at very low temperatures. Their activation energies in the same reactions are calculated to be 55.3 kJ mol−1

and 50.3 kJ mol−1, respectively.