Catalytic Behavior of Iron-Containing Cubic Spinel in the Hydrolysis and Hydrothermolysis of Ammonia Borane

The paper presents a comparative study of the activity of magnetite (Fe3O4) and copper and cobalt ferrites with the structure of a cubic spinel synthesized by combustion of glycine-nitrate precursors in the reactions of ammonia borane (NH3BH3) hydrolysis and hydrothermolysis. It was shown that the use of copper ferrite in the studied reactions of NH3BH3 dehydrogenation has the advantages of a high catalytic activity and the absence of an induction period in the H2 generation curve due to the activating action of copper on the reduction of iron. Two methods have been proposed to improve catalytic activity of Fe3O4-based systems: (1) replacement of a portion of Fe2+ cations in the spinel by active cations including Cu2+ and (2) preparation of highly dispersed multiphase oxide systems, involving oxide of copper.