Catalytic application of shape-controlled Cu ₂O particles protected by Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles for hydrogen evolution from ammonia borane

Cu ₂O particles are active catalysts for hydrogen evolution from ammonia borane (AB) by hydrolysis, however, Cu ₂O particles easily form agglomerates as a result of highly reduced conditions during the reaction. In order to suppress agglomerate formation, capping of Cu ₂O with organic reagents or inorganic materials was performed and the catalytic reactivity in AB hydrolysis was examined. Among the examined methods, capping of Cu ₂O particles with Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles was the most effective to avoid agglomerate formation of Cu ₂O particles. The finding enabled us to examine the shape effect of Cu ₂O particles on the catalytic reactivity in AB hydrolysis in the presence of Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles. Comparisons of turnover frequencies for hydrogen evolution of Cu ₂O-Co ₃O ₄ composites, in which Cu ₂O particles were in the shape of 50-facets, cube, octahedron or rhombicuboctahedron, indicated that the composite with Cu ₂O with the shape of 50-facets showed more than 7-fold higher hydrogen evolution rate normalized by surface area than the composite with Cu ₂O with the octahedral shape. The size and shape effects of Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles were also investigated on their ability to protect Cu ₂O from agglomeration. Comparisons of the catalytic reactivity of Cu ₂O particles decorated with Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes in terms of amounts and rates of hydrogen evolved by AB hydrolysis indicated that the size of Co ₃O ₄ nanoparticles is more important than the shape to exhibit high catalytic reactivity.