Palladium catalysts supported on carbonized porous silicon for H2/O2 recombination

Abstract

The article presents new research on the use of catalysts for H₂/O₂ recombination. The study emphasizes the importance of ensuring safe production, storage, and utilization of green hydrogen by recombining gas leaks. We suggest the utilization of innovative palladium catalysts for low-temperature hydrogen oxidation. These catalysts leverage molecular oxygen from the air to efficiently recombine small amounts of leaked hydrogen, resulting in the production of water. Recombination catalysts with a small amount of dispersed palladium metal on an inert support are the most efficient for production to prevent the risks of hydrogen explosion and fire. This study is focused on the development of laboratory prototypes for the H₂/O₂ recombination catalysts. We identified a potential catalytic system through monitoring of current literature to propose efficient hydrogen recombination catalysts. We present an optimized method for coating the surface of porous silicon nanoparticles with carbon layers, and introduce a technique for the production of supported palladium recombination catalysts. The proposed catalysts efficiently facilitate the recombination of hydrogen in lean air-hydrogen gas mixtures, offering a cost-effective alternative to more expensive commercial catalysts. Furthermore, they exhibit remarkable efficiency at both room and elevated temperatures. The final remarks underscore the necessity of creating new Pd catalysts to guarantee the secure storage and usage of hydrogen.