Low-temperature decomposition of ammonia borane in the presence of titania

In the presence of anatase, the thermal decomposition of ammonia borane (AB) begins at a lower temperature, which enables AB dehydrogenation at a temperature as low as 80°C. The reduction in the AB decomposition temperature depends on the AB content of the mixture. In situ IR spectroscopy data demonstrate that, in the presence of TiO2, the structural destabilization of AB occurs during heating and is accompanied by the formation of an oxygen-containing boron phase and partial reduction of the titania, which is supported by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data.