Trimetallic NiPtAg nanoparticles supported by SBA-15 for hydrogen production through hydrazine hydrate dehydrogenation reaction

Hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 center dot H2O) is one of the compounds that can be used to produce hydrogen through a dehydrogenation reaction. The use of trimetallic nanoparticles can increase the catalytic activity and selectivity of the hydrogen produced. Ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 was synthesized to be used as a support for NiPtAg trimetallic nanoparticles. NiPtAg/SBA-15 was synthesized from NiCl2.6H2O, K2PtCl6, AgNO3, and SBA-15 by wet impregnation method and then reduced by NaBH4. To determine the best variation of metal composition, optimization of the trimetallic composition was carried out. Ni0.6Pt0.2Ag0.2/SBA-15 catalyst demonstrates a good catalytic activity with selectivity of 94% and TOF of 321.9 h-1 at 343 K. The activation energy required by the Ni0.6Pt0.2Ag0.2/SBA-15 catalyst in the dehydrogenation reaction of hydrazine hydrate is 55.6 kJ/mol.