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In this paper, two kinds of Ni nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized without and with starch as the "green" protective material and investigated as catalysts for generating hydrogen from ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB). Experimental investigations have demonstrated that both of the Ni nanoparticles possess high activities fo H2 generation from aqueous solution of AB. However, the catalytic activities of Ni nanoparticles without starch decrease seriously in the course of the lifetime tests. In contrast, the catalytic activities of the Ni nanoparticles with starch almost keep unchanged even after 240 h. Moreover, the XPS results show that the surface of the Ni nanoparticles in starch solution is still metallic Ni even after 240 h, while that in pure water is nickel oxide. This means that starch can successfully keep the Ni nanoparticles in aqueous solution from the oxidation in air. The present efficient, low-cost, and longtime water/air stable Ni catalyst represents a promising step toward the development of AB as a viable on-board hydrogen storage and supply material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the application of a zeolite-type metal-organic framework (MOF) in assisting the preparation of nanoparticulate gold catalysts for the gas phase carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation. It notes that the results from a simple solid grinding method are likely to bring new opportunities in the enhancement of high-performance gold catalysts. Furthermore, the pores' tunable size and shape indicate a great potential as candidates for novel heterogenous catalysts.