from first principles PP-I-1

PP-IV-12Catalytic Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane with Iron and Nickel OxidesLapin N.V., Djankova N.J.Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials RAS,6, Institutskaya Street, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, 142432, Russialapin@ iptm. ruAmmonia borane (H 3 BNH 3 ) is one of the perspective sources of hydrogen for feed power ofportable fuel cells. As a result of full hydrolysis of 1 gramme of ammonia borane 2Lhydrogen is formed. In conventinal conditions hydrolysis proceeds very slowly. Applicationof catalysts accelerates this process repeatedly. The best catalysts, as appears from references,are the catalysts on the basis of platinum and other precious metals. However their cost ishigh. In this connection works on search of more simple and less expensive materials all overthe world are conducted. The aim of the given work is to study the possibility to use iron andnickel oxides as catalysts of hydrolysis reaction of ammonia borane.FeO (OH), Fe 2 O 3 , NiO and double catalyst NiO-CuO/ZnO have been chosen as the objects ofresearch. In experiments the weight of each oxide was 40mg. Ammonia borane of high degreeof purification (99,8 % H 3 BNH 3 ) was applied in the form of a water solution with theconcentration 0,24wt. %. The process of hydrolysis was performed within the temperaturerange 20-80 0 C.The obtained data have shown that at temperatures below 50 0 С the catalytic activity of theoxides tested is insignificant. Preliminary activation considerably raise the catalytic activity.So 30 ml of hydrogen can be obtained from ammonia borane in the presence of non-activatediron oxide at temperature of 80 0 С for 495 sec, whereas after the activation required only 103sec is for conducted the same volume of hydrogen. Approximately the same rate is noted atapplication NiO-CuO/ZnO (130 sec). FeO (OH) is intermediate: 295 sec. Nickel oxide showsthe least catalytic activity (700 sec). In the present work the order of reaction of hydrolysis forthe catalysts under investigation is defined, and the constants of rate and seeming activationenergy are calculated.On the basis of the conducted research it is possible to draw a conclusion that the oxides studiedcan serve as catalysts of reaction of hydrolysis of ammonia borane for the purpose of hydrogenproduction, the availability and cheapness of iron oxide make it rather attractive and perspective.The work is executed with the financial support of the Russian Federal Property Fund (theproject № 11-08-01206а).296