Smart nanocatalyst for ammonia-borane hydrolysis: Thermo-controlled hydrogen generation

A smart catalyst was fabricated by combining ordered mesoporous silica, Pt nanoparticles with ultra-small size (<2 nm), decatungstoeuropate and thermo-responsive polymer. Due to the coating of thermo-sensitive polymer and loading of Pt nanoparticles, the catalyst shows the thermo-controlled catalytic activity in the release of hydrogen from ammonia borane. For example, the catalyst has high catalytic activity at room temperature, showing catalytic “on” state. However, the hydrogen generation can be obviously suppressed at high temperature, showing catalytic “off” state. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel shows the switchable red luminescence in solution at high/low temperatures, which offers the possibility to track catalyst and understand catalytic mechanism. The thermo-controllable system of hydrogen generation has great potential applications in the safe hydrolysis from chemical hydride fuel. The smart catalyst could automatically decrease the release of hydrogen when the temperature of fuel system is high.