Nitrogen/oxygen co-doped graphene bonded nickel particles composite for dehydrogenation of formic acid at near room temperature

Low-cost non-noble metal catalyst for dehydrogenation of formic acid to hydrogen at near room temperature is considered as a key to promoting commercial technology for clean energy. We have constructed reduced graphene oxide (RGO) self-assembly bonded nickel particles for synthesis of graphene nanosheets embedded with nickel nanoparticles architecture Ni@xRGO. Nitrogen and oxygen co-doped graphene facilitates the adsorption of hydrogen protons from formic acid. Electron transfer ability of Ni@xRGO with active sites is enhanced via Ni-C bond in the interface between the RGO nanosheets and nickel particles, which promoted the C-H bond breaking for dehydrogenation of formic acid. The Ni@0. 20RGO has excellent catalytic performance for hydrogen production from formic acid at near room temperature (the yield of hydrogen, 240.0 mL g-1 h-1 at 50 degrees C), comparable to the most active non-noble metal catalysts. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.

Automated summary

Researchers have successfully constructed Ni@0.20RGO nanomaterial with excellent catalytic performance for dehydrogenation of formic acid to hydrogen at near room temperature. This catalytic performance is comparable to some of the most active non-noble metal catalysts, providing new possibilities for promoting the development of clean energy technologies.