Co-Mn-B Nanoparticles Supported on Epoxy-Based Polymer as Catalyst for Evolution of H₂ from Ammonia Borane Semi-Methanolysis

A high-density and low-cost hydrogen generation technology is required for hydrogen energy systems. Non-noble multimetallic Co-Mn-B nanoparticles can serve as a good catalyst because of their low cost and ability to produce hydrogen gas during the catalytic semi-methanolysis process. This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and the use of Co-Mn-B catalyst supported on Eupergit CM as a very active and reusable catalyst for the generation of hydrogen from the semi-methanolysis of ammonia borane (AB). Solid materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rates of hydrogen generation were used to determine the kinetics of semi-methanolysis reaction. The parameters examined, namely the percentage of NaOH, percentage of metal loading, amount of catalyst particles, and AB concentrations and temperatures, were 1–5 (wt)%, 5–10 (wt)%, 5–50 mg, 0.5–3 mmol, and 30–60°C, respectively. Total turnover frequency (TOF) value, hydrogen generation rate, and activation energy (Ea) were obtained at 30°C as 15,751 h⁻¹, 17,324 mL g_cat⁻¹min⁻¹ (3 mmol AB and 25 mg Co-Mn-B/Eupergit CM), and 43.936 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.