Multifunctional Au-Co@CN Nanocatalyst for Highly Efficient Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane

A magnetically recyclable carbon nitride supported AuCo nanoparticles (AuCo@CN) displayed exceedingly high photocatalytic activity for hydrolysis of aqueous ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) solution. Combined with a synergetic effect between Au and Co nanoparticles, the MottySchottky effect at the metalsemiconductor interface remarkably facilitated the catalytic performance of the AuCo@CN catalyst on the hydrolysis of AB. The TOF value of AuCo@CN catalyst is 2897 mol H-2 mol(-1) metal h(-1) at 298 K under visible light irradiation, which is more than 3 times higher than that of the benchmarked catalyst, PVP-stabilized Au@Co nanoparticles.