On-Off Control for On-Demand H2 Release upon Dimethylamineborane Hydrolysis over Ru0.8Ni0.2/MoS2 Nanohybrids

In spite of the fact that remarkable developments are achieved in the design and development of novel nanocatalysts for H-2 release upon dimethylamineborane hydrolysis, the development of an on-off switch for demand-based H-2 evolution upon dimethylamineborane hydrolysis is still a matter of supreme importance, however. Herein, we synthesized a string of MoS2 nanosheet-supported RuNi bimetallic nanohybrids (RuxNi1-x/ MoS2), by fixation of RuNi nanoparticles at the MoS2 surface, for the H-2 evolution upon the hydrolysis of dimethylamineborane at 30 degrees C. For safely and effectively generating, transporting, and storing H-2 gas, the selective on-off switch for on-demand H-2 evolution upon dimethylamineborane hydrolysis over the Ru0.8Ni0.2/MoS2 nanohybrid has been successfully realized by the Zn2+/EDTA-2Na system. In particular, the H-2 evolution is totally switched off by adding Zn(NO3)(2). It seems that Zn2+ ions are attached and anchored at the Ru0.8Ni0.2/MoS2 surface, inhibiting their surface-active sites, leading to the termination of H-2 evolution. Then, the H-2 generation is subsequently reactivated by adding the EDTA-2Na solution because of its excellent coordination ability with Zn2+ ions. This study not only offers a new and efficient RuNi nanocatalyst for dimethylamineborane hydrolysis but also proposes a new method for the demand-based H-2 production.

Automated summary

Despite the remarkable progress in the design and development of novel nanocatalysts for H-2 release via dimethylamineborane hydrolysis, the development of an on-off switch for demand-based H-2 evolution is still highly important. In this study, RuNi/MoS2 nanohybrids were synthesized and successfully demonstrated as efficient catalysts for H-2 evolution from dimethylamineborane hydrolysis. The Zn2+/EDTA-2Na system was used to selectively control the on-demand H-2 production.