(744d) Selective and Highly Stable H2 Production from Formic Acid Decomposition over Graphite-Supported Moc
AIChE Annual Meeting
2017
2017 Annual Meeting
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
Catalytic Hydrogen Generation II: Shift and Splitting Reactions
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - 4:15pm to 4:35pm
Formic acid (FA) is a good âgreenâ energy carrier candidate since it can be produced from CO2, stored as a liquid, and converted to H2 and CO2 on demand to power H2 fuel cells. Several interesting catalytic approaches have been investigated on both ends of this cycle, but the final reforming reaction still needs more work to become a viable commercial fuel source. Unlike the synthesis reaction, which will be conducted at a production plant and can use any materials or processes within the cost and safety limits, the on-demand reforming reaction must meet a number of criteria. First, FA reforming cannot be conducted over expensive, difficult-to-prepare, or unsafe catalysts â for both economic and safety reasons. Any catalyst chosen for a commercial FA reformer must also maintain very good long-term stability, which oftentimes means a loss in activity. We have synthesized MoC nanoparticles (~2 nm) supported on graphite which demonstrate higher FA reforming activity, better CO2/CO selectivity, and greater long-term stability without H2 pretreatment than unsupported Mo2C. We also propose a simple reaction mechanism for both reaction pathways based on previous observations and DFT studies on other materials as well as our own observations, and thoughts on how to further improve the reaction without using expensive or difficult-to-prepare catalysts, including by additive co-feed and with electric fields.