Retracted Article: Mesoporous multiwalled carbon nanotubes as supports for monodispersed iron–boron catalysts: improved hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine decomposition

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2013, Vol.1 (2), p.358-366
• Main Authors: Tong, Dong Ge, Chu, Wei, Wu, Ping, Gu, Gui Fang, Zhang, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C2TA00015F

Multiwalled carbon nanotube supported iron–boron catalysts (Fe–B/MWCNTs) were developed via the chemical reduction of aqueous sodium borohydride with iron chloride for hydrolysis of hydrous hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ). The effects of loading, N 2 H 4 concentration, reaction temperature and supporting materials on the as-prepared Fe–B/MWCNTs were investigated. A high H 2 generation rate of 34.2 L h −1 g −1 catalyst for the 9.86 wt% Fe–B/MWCNTs is achieved with 97.0% H 2 selectivity at room temperature. Furthermore, the hydrolysis reaction is zero order with respect to N 2 H 4 concentration in the range 0.1–5 mol L −1 , and the activation energy is 46.7 ± 1.3 kJ mol −1 for 9.86 wt% Fe–B/MWCNTs. The 9.86 wt% Fe–B/MWCNTs are stable catalysts for N 2 H 4 hydrolytic dehydrogenation as they provide 114 480 total turnovers in 30 h. The improved performance of Fe–B/MWCNTs is a promising step towards the application of N 2 H 4 as a chemical hydrogen storage material.