Pd@C3N4 nanocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen storage system based on potassium bicarbonate/formate

Formate/bicarbonate system has several desirable properties such as noncorrosive and nonirritating nature, as well as facile handling, which make it an attractive candidate for a safe, reversible hydrogen storage material. Herein, Pd nanoparticles supported on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg‐C3N4) for formate‐based reversible hydrogen storage is reported. The as‐developed Pd/mpg‐C3N4 material was shown to be a superior catalyst for the hydrogenation of high concentrations of bicarbonate to formate under mild conditions. The effects of reaction temperature, H2 pressure, and bicarbonate concentration on the hydrogenation of bicarbonate to formate were investigated. The catalytic performance remained steady with high activity up to six hydrogenation cycles. The interaction between mpg‐C3N4 and Pd nanoparticles and the concerted effects of the nitrogen species located at mpg‐C3N4 and bicarbonate played a synergetic role in the enhancement of the performance of the catalyst for hydrogenation. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2410–2418, 2016