Highly efficient hydrogen evolution from formic acid using B, N co-doped carbon-supported Pd nanoparticles

Highly efficient B, N co-doped carbon-supported Pd nanoparticles for formic acid dehydrogenation. [Display omitted] •A novel B, N co-doped carbon was fabricated by pyrolysis of EDTA-2Na and H3BO3.•The type and content of N are regulated by the doping of B elements.•The Pd/BNC catalyst showed a high TOF values of 2760 h−1 for formic acid dehydrogenation. A facile novel B, N co-doped carbon was fabricated by high-temperature pyrolysis of a mixture of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt and boric acid, on which Pd nanoparticles were loaded to synthesize highly efficient Pd/BNC catalyst for dehydrogenation of formic acid. The type and content of N are regulated by the doping of B elements in carbon materials. The high content of N and B doping provides more anchor sites for Pd and strengthens the interaction between the support and Pd nanoparticles, thus forming highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles and regulating the electronic property of Pd. Therefore, the obtained Pd/BNC catalyst displayed enhanced performance (TOF = 2760 h−1) and a lower activation barrier (31.84 kJ/mol). Furthermore, the catalyst also exhibited wonderful cycling stability for hydrogen evolution from formic acid.