From Ru nanoparticle-encapsulated metal-organic frameworks to highly catalytically active Cu/Ru nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon

A facile method for the in situ encapsulation of highly dispersed ultrafine Ru nanoparticles in HKUST-1, a copper-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) metal-organic framework (MOF), without aggregation on the external surface of MOF crystallites has been developed. The thermal transformation of Ru@HKUST-1 composites in an inert atmosphere has yielded ultrafine Cu/Ru nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon, which shows very high catalytic activity and good durability for ammonia borane hydrolysis. During the thermal treatment of Ru@HKUST-1 composites, highly graphitic carbon formed around the Cu/Ru nanoparticles depressed the sintering of nanoparticles, resulting in the fine distribution of tiny nanoparticles in the carbon matrix. For the first time, the utilization of metal nanoparticle-encapsulated MOFs as a template/precursor for the synthesis of catalytically active metal nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon has been revealed.