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‐C 3 N 4 ) for formate‐based reversible hydrogen storage is reported. The as‐developed Pd/mpg‐C 3 N 4 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, H 2 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‐C 3 N 4 and Pd nanoparticles and the concerted effects of the nitrogen species located at mpg‐C 3 N 4 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