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Title: Boron Nitride-supported Sub-nanometer Pd 6 Clusters for Formic Acid Decomposition: A DFT Study

Journal Article · · ChemCatChem

A periodic, self-consistent planewave DFT study was carried out to explore the potential use of Pd6 clusters supported on a boron nitride sheet as a catalyst for the selective decomposition of formic acid (HCOOH) to CO2 and H2. The competition between formate (HCOO) and carboxyl (COOH) paths on catalytic sites, with different proximities to the support, was studied. Based on energetics alone, the reaction may mainly follow the HCOO route. Slightly lower activation energies were found at the lateral sites of the cluster as compared to top face sites. This is particularly true for the bidentate to monodentate HCOO conversion. Through comparison of results with similar studies on HCOOH decomposition on extended Pd surfaces, it was demonstrated that the existence of undercoordinated sites in the sub-nanometer cluster could play a key role in preferentially stabilizing HCOO over COOH, which is a common CO precursor in this reaction. A hydrogen spillover mechanism was also investigated; migration toward the boron nitride support is not favorable, at least in the early stages of the reaction. However, hydrogen diffusion on the cluster has low barriers compared to those involved in formic acid decomposition.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Contributing Organization:
National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC); UW-Madison Center for High Throughput Computing (CHTC)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-05ER15731
OSTI ID:
1395997
Journal Information:
ChemCatChem, Vol. 9, Issue 9; ISSN 1867-3880
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 22 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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DFT calculations on subnanometric metal catalysts: a short review on new supported materials journal March 2018
Metal Clusters Dispersed on Oxide Supports: Preparation Methods and Metal-Support Interactions journal May 2018
Highly efficient hydrogen sensors based on Pd nanoparticles supported on boron nitride coated ZnO nanowires journal January 2019
Hydrogen Arrangements on Defective Quasi-Molecular BN Fragments journal August 2019
Boron Nitride as a Novel Support for Highly Stable Palladium Nanocatalysts by Atomic Layer Deposition journal October 2018