Abstract: Ru/CSC catalysts were prepared by impregnation-reduction method using the coconut shell carbon (CSC) as support and Ru as active component, and the microstructure and morphology of the catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TEM and N2 adsorption-desorption. The effects of light, metal loading, reactant concentration, catalyst dosage, and reaction temperature on the reaction rate of hydrogen production from ammonia borane hydrolysis were investigated. The results showed that there was a metal-support interaction between Ru and CSC, and the catalytic performance of 1.0% Ru/CSC catalyst for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane to hydrogen production under the condition of visible light irradiation was significantly better than that under the condition of no light irradiation. There was a positive correlation between the hydrogen production rate and Ru/CSC concentration. The interfacial reaction of catalyst was the rate-controlling step of hydrogen production from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane, which was independent of the concentration of ammonia borane. The conversion frequency (TOF) and apparent activation energy (Ea) were 334.8min^-1 and 59.9 kJ/mol, respectively, for the photocatalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane to hydrogen at 1.0% Ru/CSC at 298 K.

Key words: ruthenium, catalyst, coconut shell carbon, ammonia borane, hydrolytic dehydrogenation