Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbon-Supported PdRu Nanoparticles Decorated with Different Proportions of Co for Ammonia-Borane Hydrolysis.

In this study, palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), and cobalt (Co) nanoparticles (NP) supported on activated carbon (AC) (denoted as PdRu/AC@1% Co) were successfully synthesized via the impregnation-reduction method. The structural and surface characteristics of the catalyst were thoroughly analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic performance of PdRu/AC@1% Co with different atomic ratios was evaluated for hydrogen generation through the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NHBH, AB). Compared to monometallic (Pd) and bimetallic (PdRu) systems, the trimetallic PdRu@Co catalyst exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity, even at low temperatures. Under optimized conditions (1 mmol of AB, 50 mg of catalyst, 25 °C), the highest turnover frequency (TOF) value of 312.8 (mol )/(mol·min) was achieved. The activation parameters for the hydrolysis reaction were calculated as activation energy ( ) = 19.6 kJ/mol, enthalpy change (Δ ) = 17.12 kJ/mol, and entropy change (Δ ) = -184.85 J/(mol·K). These findings suggest that PdRu/AC@1% Co is a highly efficient and reusable catalyst, making it a promising candidate for practical hydrogen production from AB.