Enhanced catalytic efficiency in formic acid dehydrogenation via carbon nanotubes CNT support

Abstract

Formic acid (FA) has been identified as an attractive hydrogen carrier because of its high hydrogen capacity, the generation of non-toxic byproducts, and the potential for liquid-state storage. Yet, the effective use of FA dehydrogenation is usually hampered by the inherent low stability, low selectivity, and low hydrogen release rates of traditional catalysts. The aim of this study is to enhance the catalytic performance of FA dehydrogenation through the utilization of carbon nanotube (CNT) support, which has high surface area, stability, and conductivity. We systematically compared catalysts supported on CNT (PdCo, PdAg, PdAu, and RuNi) with those not supported on CNT and compared their activities—hydrogen yield, reaction rate, and selectivity. Characterization techniques, including temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X- ray diffraction (XRD), indicated that CNT-supported catalysts significantly improve hydrogen release rates and reaction stability. Specifically, CNT-supported catalysts achieved a 50% yield of hydrogen, which is significantly greater in comparison to the 30% yield of non-CNT-supported catalysts. The reaction rate of CNT-supported PdCo was 0.05 M/min, reflecting improved catalytic activity. These improvements are attributed to the ability of CNT in facilitating electron transfer and promoting homogeneous dispersion of active sites. The findings demonstrate the potential of CNT-supported catalysts for improving hydrogen generation from FA, offering valuable information in developing efficient catalysts for clean energy technology. This work demonstrates the practical usability of CNT-supported catalysts for large-scale hydrogen production, contributing to the development of sustainable energy technology.