Controlled release of hydrogen isotope compounds and tunneling effect in the heterogeneously-catalyzed formic acid dehydrogenation

Abstract

Hydrogen isotope compounds are useful in fine chemical production, but the natural abundance of these gases is low and the techniques used for producing D2 are expensive and energy intensive. Here, the authors develop a nanocatalyst that promotes selective production of D2 and HD from the inexpensive starting material formic acid in the presence of D2O.