Layered double hydroxide supported cobalt nanocluster: size control and the effect in catalytic hydrogen generation

Synthesizing metal nanoclusters with diameters smaller than 5nm is challenging, but desirable because of the high ratio of surface area to interior atom. However, in this report it was achieved by utilizing magnesium-aluminium layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDH) as a host for cobalt citrate anion precursor, which was later reduced into cobalt nanoclusters (Co-NC). Size of the Co-NC was controlled by changing the concentration of cobalt-citrate (Co-citrate) precursor during anion exchange. XRD and FTIR showed that Co-citrate precursor was successfully intercalated on the LDH while nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms confirmed that mesopores in the sample were formed after chemical reduction. Furthermore, TEM/STEM observations confirmed the formation of Co-NC. It was also verified that reducing the concentration of Co-citrate from 4mM to 0.5mM resulted in a reduction in the size of Co-NC from 4.4 to 1.3 nm. However, catalytic hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis experiment indicated that catalytic activity decreased as the size of Co-NC decreases. This is mainly attributed to the limitation in mass transport within the interlamellar space of the smaller cluster LDH compared to the bigger one. Overall, Co-NC-LDH is a promising catalyst for NaBH4 hydrolysis. However, an optimum Co-NC size is critical for enhanced catalytic activity.