Instant hydrogen release from ethylenediamine bisborane by highly efficacious Rh catalysts via hydrolysis

Abstract

This current study reports preparation, characterization, and first-time catalytic employment of rhodium nanoparticles (2.6 nm) stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in hydrolysis of ethylenediamine bisborane (EDAB) to release hydrogen gas needed for fuel cells. Rhodium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP are characterized by advanced analytical techniques like fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). They are identified as the most effective catalyst up to date for hydrogen gas evolution from EDAB hydrolysis with the highest turnover frequency (TOF) value of 1928.6 min- 1. They also provide 4821 total turnovers in the same hydrolysis reaction. Their energy (Ea), enthalpy (Delta H#), and entropy (Delta S#) of activation in EDAB hydrolysis are determined to be 65.5 kJmol-1, 63.1 kJmol-1, and -49.3 Jmol-1K-1.