Colloidal platinum nanoparticles dispersed by polyvinylpyrrolidone and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) with high catalytic activity for hydrogen production based on formate decomposition

Abstract

Selective H₂ production based on formate decomposition with colloidal platinum nanoparticles dispersed by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a cationic polymer, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMA) (Pt-PVP/P), is demonstrated. By using Pt-PVP/PDADMA, a substantially higher rate of selective H₂ production based on formate decomposition was accomplished compared with that by using Pt-PVP. Notably, the rate of H₂ production from an acidic solution, the pH of which was lower than the pK_a of formic acid, was drastically improved (8.5 times higher than that by Pt-PVP at pH 2.0). The activation energy for decomposing formate into H₂ and CO₂ was reduced by up to 38% compared to that by Pt-PVP.