Formic acid, HCOOH, decomposes either to release gaseous H2 and CO2 (dehydrogenation) or to release gaseous H2O plus CO (dehydration). Both reactions are exergonic and spontaneous (negative free energy change). The first reaction is exothermic and the second is endothermic starting from gas phase formic acid (both reactions are endothermic starting from liquid phase formic acid). It is well known that platinum group metals are active and selective for the first reaction, however, most of the examples in the literature deal with dilute formic acid at low pressure. Here we report our extension of the reaction to high pressure using small particles of Au supported on C. The reaction kinetics are scarcely changed across 4 orders of magnitude in pressure. Separation of the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide still remains as an impediment to the distributed use of formic acid as a liquid hydrogen carrier.

High pressure dehydrogenation of formic acid, a "Green", liquid hydrogen carrier

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