Facile synthesis of amine-functionalized SBA-15-supported bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen generation from formic acid

In this study, a series of amine-functionalized SBA-15-supported bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticles (Au-Pd/SBA-15-Amine) as catalysts are successfully synthesized by surface functionalization and co-reduction and characterized by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and TEM. The Au-Pd/SBA-15-Amine catalysts thus obtained are tested for the dehydrogenation of formic acid (FA)-sodium formate (SF). Among the tested Au-Pd/SBA-15-Amine catalysts, as-synthesized Au2Pd8/SBA-15-Amine exhibits 100% H-2 selectivity and outstanding catalytic activity with an initial turnover frequency (TOF) of 1786 h(-1) at 323 K; this superior catalytic activity is attributed to synergy between AuPd and SBA-15-Amine and the promotion effect of SF. At SF concentrations of greater than 0.5 mol L-1, SF can partially participate in dehydrogenation. The facile synthesis of the Au-Pd/SBA-15-Amine catalyst is imperative for accelerating the widespread application of FA-SF mixtures as a promising hydrogen carrier.