Catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane in non-aqueous medium

Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane (NH3BH3, AB) catalyzed by transition metal heterogeneous catalysts was carried out in non-aqueous solution at temperatures below the standard polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell operating conditions. The introduction of a catalytic amount (∼2 mol%) of platinum to a solution of AB in 2-methoxyethyl ether (0.02–0.33 M) resulted in a rapid evolution of H2 gas at room temperature. At 70 °C, the rate of platinum catalyzed hydrogen release from AB was the dehydrogenation rate which was 0.04 g s−1 H2 kW−1.