Pd nanoreactors with excellent catalytic activity supported in p(SPA) hydrogel networks for hydrogen production from ethylenediamine bisborane

In this study we synthesized Pd(0) nanoparticles with nearly 20 nm size using p(3-Sulfopropyl acrylate) (p(SPA)) hydrogel as support material. Pd@p(SPA) containing Pd (0) nanoparticles with nearly homogeneous distribution was characterized structurally with TEM, XRD, XPS and elemental mapping. The Pd@p(SPA) was used for the catalytic hydrolysis reaction of ethylenediamine bisborane (EDAB). A series of reactions were completed by changing parameters like the catalyst amount, EDAB concentration and temperature. The Pd@p(SPA) was determined to have turnover frequency (TOF) value of 354 mol H-2.molPd(0)(-1).h(-1) at 30 degrees C for the hydrolysis reaction of EDAB. The activation parameters for the reaction were E-a = 67.79 kJmo1(-1), Delta H-# = 65.15 kJmol(-1) and Delta S-# = -103.26 Jmol(-1) K-1. Pd@p(SPA) also had excellent reusability for the hydrolysis of EDAB. Even after ten reaction cycles, Pd@p(SPA) had 87% catalytic activity. At the same time after four months of storage in an aqueous medium, Pd@p(SPA) still had 100% catalytic activity. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.