High catalytic kinetic performance of amorphous CoPt NPs induced on CeOx for H2 generation from hydrous hydrazine

CeOx-induced amorphization of CoPt nanoparticles (NPs) is achieved by a facile co-reduction method using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as the reducing agent at room temperature (298 K) under ambient atmosphere. The investigation results indicate that CeOx plays a critical role in transferring the crystalline CoPt nanoalloy into the amorphous one. To our surprise, the resultant Co0.65Pt0.30(CeOx)0.05 NPs exhibit high catalytic kinetic performance with 72.1% hydrogen (H2) selectivity for the H2 generation from hydrous hydrazine (N2H4) within only a few minute at 298 K. Although complete conversion is not achieved, but the initial turnover frequency value of 194.8 h−1 for the present amorphous catalyst is much higher than that of crystalline one. Moreover, such a highly rapid catalyst may greatly encourage the practical application of hydrous N2H4 as a hydrogen storage material.