Low Temperature H2 Production from Formic Acid Aqueous Solution Catalyzed on Metal Doped Mo2C

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising energy scours in the close future Online hydrogen preparation from formic acid under mild reaction conditions causes extensive interests. Mo2C and metal (Fe, Ni, Co, K) doped Mo2C on granular activated carbon (GAC) were prepared and used as heterogeneous catalysts for H2 generation from formic acid on a fixed bed reactor at 100-250 degrees C. The formic acid conversions on doped Mo2C-Me/GAC are clearly improved, especially at lower reaction temperatures. Co doping presents outstanding effect on H-2 selectivity and conversion rate compared to Ni and Fe. A 56.3% formic acid conversion was reached on Mo2C-Co/GAC at 100 degrees C, which triples that on Mo2C/GAC at the same temperature. At 150 degrees C, a high formic acid conversion over 90% was reached on Mo2C-Co/GAC. These long lifetime catalysts with no precious metal provide a low cost route to hydrogen production from formic acid.