Hydrogen production via copper nanocatalysts stabilized by cyclen derivative hydrogel networks from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane and ethylenediamine bisborane

In this study, p(AAm-co-TACYC) hydrogels were synthesized using TACYC crosslinker. The p(AAm-co-TACYC) hydrogel was used for preparation of Cu(0) nanoparticles as support material. The p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu was prepared by chemical reduction of Cu2+ ions in the p(AAm-co-TACYC) networks and was structurally characterized in detail. Later the catalytic activity of p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu was investigated for hydrogen production from AB and EDAB hydrolysis. Detailed kinetic studies were performed for both hydrogen storage materials. The p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu was a more active catalyst for the EDAB hydrolysis reaction. The E-a values of p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu for the AB and EDAB hydrolysis reactions were determined as 68.36 kJ mol(-1) and 39.07 kJ mol(-1), respectively. In addition to the perfect catalytic activity of p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu, it had good reusability. After ten consecutive uses for AB and EDAB hydrolysis, the p(AAm-co-TACYC)@Cu still had 88% and 85% of initial activity, respectively. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.