Palladium black is a coarse, sponge-like form of elemental palladium that offers a large surface area for hydrogen adsorption. It can be used as a catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.
This term is also used colloquially to refer to a black precipitate of elemental palladium, which forms on decomposition of palladium complexes.
This form of palladium is commercially available in different grades.[1] It may be prepared by the reduction of various palladium(II) compounds.