Hierarchical porous CuNi-based bimetal-organic frameworks as efficient catalysts for ammonia borane hydrolysis

Abstract Ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) hydrolysis is an effective strategy to utilize hydrogen energy. In this work, the hierarchical porous CuNi bimetal-organic frameworks (CuNi-MOFs) are fabricated through a facile solvothermal method and characterized by various techniques. The CuNi-MOFs display outstanding catalytic activity and remarkable durability for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB. The corresponding turnover frequency reaches 40.85 molH2 · molMetal−1 · min−1 and the apparent activation energy (28.99 kJ mol−1) is lower than those of many catalysts previously reported. The results verify the resultant CuNi-MOFs are promising for the hydrolysis of hydrogen storage materials.