Noble Metal-free Bimetallic Cobalt/Manganese Oxide Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation by Decomposition of Hydrous Hydrazine

Abstract

Bimetallic cobalt and manganese oxide (Co/MnO) is prepared by annealing the spinel structure of CoMn2O4 under hydrogen environment. This noble metal-free catalyst is applied for hydrogen generation from aqueous hydrazine solution. X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that the phase separation of metallic cobalt and manganese monoxide from CoMn2O4 occurs during annealing process. Co/MnO exhibits catalytic activity with the TOF value of 14.2 h(-1) and 100% selectivity without generation of ammonia at 343 K. It is found that metallic cobalt plays role on the active site for hydrogen generation.