Hydrolysis of NH3BH3 and NaBH4 by graphene quantum dots-transition metal nanoparticles for highly effective hydrogen evolution

Recently, effective hydrogen (H2) evolution upon hydrolysis of different hydrogen storage materials has received much attention. Herein, graphene quantum dots-transition metal nanoparticles (GQDs-TMNPs), with high dispersibility and activity, have been successfully applied in the hydrolysis of both NH3BH3 (AB) and NaBH4 for the first time. GQDs-RhNPs, GQDs-RuNPs, and GQDs-PtNPs are very effective in the hydrolysis of AB and the turnover frequencies (TOFs) can achieve to as high as 656, 384, and 281 molH2·molcat−1 min−1, respectively. Moreover, the synergistic effect between GQDs and TMNPs is explored, and the mechanisms of catalytic hydrolysis of AB and NaBH4 by GQDs-TMNPs are proposed. This work not only paves the way for the development of GQDs-TMNPs nanocatalysts for the different hydrogen storage materials, but also further advances the understanding of the synergistic effects between GQDs and TMNPs.