Surface oxidation of Ti₃C₂T_x enhances the catalytic activity of supported platinum nanoparticles in ammonia borane hydrolysis

MXenes, first discovered in 2011, are two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides. Because of their interesting electrical and optical properties, they are studied for applications in batteries, supercapacitors and electrocatalysis. However, MXenes are rarely used in heterogeneous catalysis and, to our knowledge, there are no reports on the use of oxidized MXenes in catalysis. Here we used Ti₃C₂T_x-derived materials as supports for platinum nanoparticles and studied their effectiveness for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane, which is a promising hydrogen carrier. Hydrogen can be released from ammonia borane through catalytic hydrolysis. Most heterogeneous catalysts reported for this purpose contain a noble metal supported on a metal oxide support. The interaction between the metal and the support is important in determining the catalytic performance. Our results show that the electronic environment of platinum can be modified by oxidising the surface of MXene, thus providing a new way of developing active catalysts. Oxidising agents such as water and ozone can be used for this purpose. This electronic modification enhances the catalytic activity of platinum for ammonia borane hydrolysis, which is relevant for other reactions related to energy production/storage.