PdCo Alloy Supported on a ZIF-Derived N-Doped Carbon Hollow Polyhedron for Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane

Ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) is a promising material for hydrogen storage/production. We applied a facile thermal treatment to synthesize a PdCo alloy anchored on a nitrogen-doped carbon hollow polyhedron (PdCo@NCHP) derived from a core–shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67 crystal for use as a highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen generation from AB. The as-prepared PdCo@NCHP exhibited excellent activity toward hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB in neutral and alkaline solutions, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 470.57 and 881.91 molH2·molPd–1·min–1 at 303 K, respectively, and a relatively low activation energy of 36.9 kJ·mol–1. The impressive catalytic performance may be attributed to the electronic interaction between Pd and Co, the synergistic effects of the PdCo nanoparticles and the NCHP support, and the hollow-structured NCHP support with its large pore volume, high surface area, high nitrogen content, and high graphitization. These results enhance the prospect of AB in practical hydrogen storage.