Pt nanoparticles immobilized in mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanocapsules: A non-leaching catalyst for hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane

In this work, novel hollow mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanocapsule that immobilizing Pt nanoparticles (NPs) in its core (Fe(3)o(4)@Sio(2)@Pt@mSiO(2)) was successfully synthesized. The obtained catalyst was characterized by TEM, XRD, BET, VSM, ICP and N-2 adsorption-desorption. The Fe(3)o(4)@Sio(2)@Pt@mSio(2) catalyst was used in the catalytic hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of ammonia borane and showed superior catalytic activity. Moreover, the Fe(3)o(4) SiO2 Pt@mSiO(2) catalyst can be easily recovered by magnetic separation attributed to the supermagnetic Fe3O4 NPs imbedded in the inner core. It is worth mentioning that, due to the Pt NPs were immobilized in the core of the nanocapsules and covered with mesoporous silica shell, Pt NPs leaching was efficiently prevented during the catalytic process. Therefore, this work provided a helpful platform for the preparation of noble metal based nanostructured catalysts with excellent activity, accessibility, facile recovery and almost no noble metal leaching. (c) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.