The effect of phosphorus addition on the activity of palladium catalysts (1% Pd/AlO-xP, where x equals 1–30 wt%) in the dehydrogenation reaction of perhydrophenazine, a promising liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), was investigated. It is shown by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, X-Ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and CO chemisorption methods that the addition of phosphorus changes the support structure, increasing the specific surface area and modifying the electronic state of palladium nanoparticles. Optimal phosphorus content (10 wt%) provides maximum catalytic activity (hydrogen yield 76% at 200°C) due to the formation of electron-deficient Pd centers and palladium phosphides. Further increase of phosphorus concentration (15%) decreases the activity due to blocking of active centers and decrease of specific surface area.
D.A. Konovalova (2025) studied this question.