Enhancement of catalytic activity by increasing surface area in heterogeneous catalysis

The use of nanoclusters in systems with confined void spaces such as inside mesoporous or microporous solids appears to be an efficient way of preventing aggregation of nanoclusters in their catalytic application. Zeolite-Y is considered as a suitable host providing highly ordered supercages with a diameter of 1.3 nm. Intrazeolite metal(0) nanoclusters were prepared at room temperature by ion-exchange of metal cations with the extra framework Na⁺ ions in Zeolite-Y, followed by the reduction of the metal cations in the cavities of Zeolite-Y with sodium borohydride in aqueous solution, whereby the Zeolite-Y is reloaded with Na⁺ ions. Hence, host framework remains intact as shown by using a multi-prong approach. Intrazeolite transition-metal(0) nanoclusters were isolated by suction filtration and drying in vacuum at room temperature and characterized by a combination of analytical methods. Intrazeolite metal(0) nanoclusters were tested as catalyst in the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride and ammonia-borane, both of which have been considered as a promising hydrogen storage materials. High catalytic activity and the outstandingly long lifetime of intrazeolite transition-metal(0) nanoclusters catalyst in the hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of both sodium borohydride and ammonia-borane is demonstrated. The results are attributed to the small size of the nanoclusters within the zeolite cages as well as prevention of agglomeration of the nanoclusters.