Ruthenium(0) nanoparticles supported on xonotlite nanowire: a long-lived catalyst for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane

Ruthenium(0) nanoparticles supported on xonotlite nanowire (Ru(0)@X-NW) were prepared by the ion exchange of Ru3+ ions with Ca2+ ions in the lattice of xonotlite nanowire followed by their reduction with sodium borohydride in aqueous solution at room temperature. Ru(0)@X-NW were characterized by a combination of advanced analytical techniques. The results show that (i) highly dispersed ruthenium(0) nanoparticles of 4.4 +/- 0.4 nm size were formed on the surface of xonotlite nanowire, (ii) Ru(0)@X-NW show high catalytic activity in hydrogen generation from the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency value up to 135 min(-1) at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. (iii) They provide unprecedented catalytic life time (TTO = 134,100) for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. (iv) The results of a kinetic study on the hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane were also reported including the activation energy of 77 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) for this reaction.