RuCo Nanoparticles Immobilized on Carbon Nanocuboids as Catalysts for H₂ Evolution

It is a matter of high significance to develop on-demand H 2 evolution from chemical hydrogen storage materials for efficiently avoiding the safety risks and high costs in the process of H 2 storage and transport, which has important scientific significance and application value for the safe and effective use of H 2 . In this study, we have designed and synthesized an RuCo nanocatalyst immobilized onto hollow carbon nanocuboids (RuCo-CNCs) for on-demand H 2 evolution from chemical hydrogen storage materials (including Me 2 NHBH 3, NH 3 BH 3, and NaBH 4 ). Full physical characterization confirmed that RuCo-CNC-800 exhibited a nanocuboid-shaped structure, and RuCo bimetallic nanoparticles were successfully immobilized onto nanocuboids. This is advantageous to prevent the aggregation of the RuCo nanocatalyst and mass transfer, hence boosting its stability and catalytic performance in H 2 evolution. More importantly, the in situ H 2 from chemical hydrogen storage materials was successfully applied for the hydrogenation reaction, thus eliminating the need for dangerous hydrogen cylinders. In addition, the “on–off” switch for H 2 evolution from Me 2 NHBH 3 hydrolysis over the RuCo-CNC-800 nanocatalyst was successfully achieved using the system of Zn 2+ /ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na). This work not only provides an efficient RuCo nanocatalyst for H 2 evolution but also suggests a feasible method for the safe and effective use of H 2 .