Effective Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid with Pd Catalyst Supported by Activated Biochar Derived From Roxburgh Pear Residue

Designing catalysts with high activity and excellent stability is crucial for hydrogen production via formic acid decomposition. Considering the support properties considerably affect Pd dispersion, we designed Pd-based catalysts using Roxburgh pear residue activated by KOH, H 3 PO 4 , and ZnCl 2 . Among them, KOH activation delivered the best performance, with Pd/Cr–KOH exhibiting a turnover frequency of 963 h −1 at 303 K. This superior activity arises from the synergistic effects of the KOH-activated support. Specifically, the high specific surface area and abundant mesopores ensure uniform Pd dispersion and expose more active sites. The retained alkaline sites promote formic acid deprotonation and accelerate C–H bond cleavage. Meanwhile, oxygen-containing functional groups anchor Pd precursors, prevent metal agglomeration, and enhance electron transfer from Pd to the support, which weakens the Pd–H bond strength and facilitates H 2 desorption. These results demonstrate that KOH-activated biochar is a promising support for efficient hydrogen production from formic acid. Graphical This study designs Pd-based catalysts using KOH-, H 3 PO 4 -, and ZnCl 2 -activated Roxburgh pear residue. Pd/Cr–KOH exhibits the highest activity (TOF = 963 h −1 at 303 K) due to its high surface area, abundant mesopores, retained alkaline sites, and oxygen-functional groups that enhance Pd dispersion, promote deprotonation, weaken Pd–H bonds, and facilitate H 2 desorption.