Bimetallic Pd-Bi nanocatalysts derived from NaBH4 reduction of BiOCl and Pd2+ and exhibit highly efficient hydrogen production over formaldehyde solution

Using liquid formaldehyde as a carrier to obtain clean hydrogen is a promising method. The development of inexpensive catalysts with high activity and stability is crucial for this reaction. Herein, bimetallic Pd-Bi nanocatalysts with different Pd to Bi ratios were prepared through one step in-situ reduction of BiOCl and Pd2+ ions by sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The effect of Pd/Bi ratios and reaction parameters such as formaldehyde concentration and sodium hydroxide concentration on hydrogen production performance were systematically studied. By optimizing the Pd contents in Pd-Bi nanocatalysts under the optimized reaction conditions, an much higher hydrogen (H-2) production rate of 472.2 mL min(-1)g(-1) over Pd/BiOCl-3% under 298.15 K can be achieved, which is 4.01 times that of pure Pd nanoparticles (NPs) and much higher than most reported metal-based catalysts. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.