Facile　solution-phase　synthesis　of　copper　nanoparticles　dispersed　on　h-BN　via　a　solvothermal　method　is　proposed　for　the　hydrolytic　dehydrogenation　of　ammonia　borane.　We　found　that　the　earth-abundant　copper　nanoparticles　were　highly　stabilized　on　h-BN　nanosheets.　The　resulting　Cu/h-BN　composites　exhibited　high　catalytic　activity　and　good　recycling　performance　for　hydrogen　generation　from　the　hydrolysis　of　ammonia　borane　under　mild　reaction　conditions.　Furthermore,　the　kinetics　of　the　hydrolysis　reaction　were　also　investigated　by　varying　the　concentration　of　ammonia　borane,　the　amount　of　catalyst,　and　the　reaction　temperature.　An　activation　energy　of　23.8　kJ　mol−1　was　measured　for　the　hydrolysis　reaction　catalyzed　by　the　29.4　wt%　Cu/h-BN　sample,　which　is　lower　than　most　of　the　reported　values　for　other　catalysts.　This　study　demonstrates　that　Cu/h-BN　nanocomposites　can　act　as　a　potential　non-precious　and　effective　catalyst　for　hydrogen　generation　from　the　hydrolysis　of　ammonia　borane.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.