Retracted Article: Honeycomb-like Co–B amorphous alloy catalysts assembled by a solution plasma process show enhanced catalytic hydrolysis activity for hydrogen generation
Authors: Dong Ge Tong
Wei Chu
Ping Wu
Li Zhang
Journal: RSC Advances (2012)
Discipline: CHEMISTRY
Keywords: plasma process; Co-B amorphous alloy catalysts; specific surface area; triethanolamine; soft template
Affiliations: Mineral Resources Chemistry Key Laboratory of Sichuan Higher Education Institutions, College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, China, Institute of green catalysis and synthesis, College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University

Abstract: A novel solution plasma process was developed to assemble honeycomb-like Co–B amorphous alloy catalysts with 253.33 m2 g\u22121 specific surface area using triethanolamine (TEA) as a soft template. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. During catalytic hydrolysis of hydrous hydrazine (H2NNH2) for hydrogen generation, the hydrolysis activity and hydrogen selectivity of the honeycomb-like Co–B is superior to Rh nanoparticles and Co–B nanospheres. Meanwhile, the sample also exhibits excellent catalytic performance in the catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH3BH3) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) for hydrogen generation, respectively. The H2 generation rate of 28.9, 105.8, and 262.8 L h\u22121 g\u22121catalyst for the hydrolysis reactions of H2NNH2, NH3BH3 and NaBH4, respectively, can be achieved. Meanwhile, the honeycomb-like Co–B is found to be a highly stable catalyst as it provides 18\u2006360, 54\u2006000, and 93\u2006727 total turnovers in the hydrolytic dehydrogenations of H2NNH2, NH3BH3 and NaBH4, respectively, after being tested for 30 h. The enhanced catalytic performance for the honeycomb-like Co–B catalyst is attributed to the high specific surface area and the enhanced intrinsic activity resulting from its unique honeycomb-like structure.

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 One SEM image illustrates three points. At top: Figures 1(a, b),  A typical SEM image of the honeycomb-like Cou2013B amorphous alloy obtained is shown in Fig. 1a, and a magnified image revealing the morphology of the honeycomb-like Cou2013B is shown in Fig. 1b. *(parameters unspecified)*. Apparently if one enlarges the left-hand panel five-fold one somehow obtains the right-hand panel. Middle:  Fig. 4 The morphology evolution of the honeycomb-like Cou2013B products during SPP: ...(g, h) 7 min . Other parameters unspecified, so irreproducible. Bottom:  Fig. 5 SEM images of the honeycomb-like Cou2013B prepared by SPP with different concentrations of triethanolamine ... (g, h) 0.15 M. Time unspecified, so irreproducible. ![file] The scale bars are not compatible. , 
 Further comparisons of Figures 4 *[left]* and 5 *[right]* reveal the following facts: 1. 5(d) is an enlargement of 4(d). We can infer that both came from an experiment with 3 minutes preparation and 0.05 M triethanolamine. However, under lower magnification the corresponding panels 5(c) and 4(c) are **different materials**. 2. 5(e) is an enlargement of 4(e). We can infer that both came from an experiment with 5 minutes preparation and 0.10 M triethanolamine. However, the scale bars are not compatible, while under higher magnification the corresponding panels 5(f) and 4(f) are **different materials**. ![file] , 
 Retracted [6 March 2020] . --------------------- We, the authors, hereby wholly retract this article due to inaccuracies in the scale bars of Fig. 1b, 4h and 5h and the wrong images being presented in Fig. 5d and e. We, the authors, repeated the experiments and believe that the scientific content and conclusions of the related studies presented in the published paper can be reproduced. However, due to the large number of images, it is not possible to replace the published images with the new figures. Therefore, to protect the rigor of the scientific record, we decided to retract this article on our own initiative. Signed: Dong Ge Tong (on behalf of the authors). Date: 6th March 2020. Retraction endorsed by Laura Fisher, Executive Editor, RSC Advances. ,