title: A prolific catalyst for dehydrogenation of neat formic acid.
abstract: Formic acid is a promising energy carrier for on-demand hydrogen generation. Because the reverse reaction is also feasible, formic acid is a form of stored hydrogen. Here we present a robust, reusable iridium catalyst that enables hydrogen gas release from neat formic acid. This catalysis works under mild conditions in the presence of air, is highly selective and affords millions of turnovers. While many catalysts exist for both formic acid dehydrogenation and carbon dioxide reduction, solutions to date on hydrogen gas release rely on volatile components that reduce the weight content of stored hydrogen and/or introduce fuel cell poisons. These are avoided here. The catalyst utilizes an interesting chemical mechanism, which is described on the basis of kinetic and synthetic experiments.
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff Joseph A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Celaje
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiyao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Elyse A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kedzie
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1981-2001
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Terrile
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Travis J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006865:Hydrogenation; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D014867:Water; C030544:formic acid; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D007495:Iridium; D006859:Hydrogen