Pd nanoparticles confined in pure Silicalite-2 zeolite with enhanced catalytic performance for the dehydrogenation of formic acid at room temperature

• Silicalite-2 zeolite can be accurately synthesized by facile hydrothermal method. • In-situ confinement growth of Pd NPs in Silicalite-2 zeolite for the first time. • Pd@S-2 catalyst exhibit superb performance in dehydrogenation of formic acid. • The physical–chemical cooperative confinement provides a promising technology. The activity and stability of metal nanoparticles (NP S ) have become a focus of attention in various important reactions. In this study, pure Silicalite-2 (S-2) zeolite with highly skeletal symmetry was synthesized by a facile method, and sub-nanometer Pd NPs were successfully confined in S-2 zeolite by one-step process. The pore structure of S-2 zeolite posted steric physical barriers against the migration of Pd NPs. Meanwhile, the strong interaction between the active Pd and the substrate provides a chemical microenvironment for accelerating the reaction. The obtained Pd 3 @S-2 with Pd NPs particle size of 1.5 nm show a conversion frequency (TOF) of 2009 h −1 for formic acid (FA) decomposition at 30 °C, and have 100 % H 2 selectivity, excellent cycle stability and thermal stability.