Catalysis in hydrolysis of sodium borohydride and ammonia borane, and electrocatalysis in oxidation of sodium borohydride

摘要

We do not ignore that today we are living an unprecedented energy crisis, which is the diseased fruit of our intense use of depleting carbonaceous resources (e.g. coal, oil and gases) and of the subsequent greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. global warming and climate change). Since we have become aware of these facts and of their urgency, there has been an almost-unanimous consensus in devoting many (political, societal, environmental, financial, industrial, scientific and technological) efforts to move towards a sustainable world. Sustainability has become the key word of the 3rd millennium and, logically and expectably, it has become one of the key words in science, especially in energy and chemistry. Finding renewable, alternative energies while mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions is now our, scientists, ultimate challenge. And, catalysis undoubtedly plays a key role in this.