High-Performance Ru-Based Catalyst for Sustainable Hydrogen Production via Ammonia Decomposition

High-Performance Ru-Based Catalyst for Sustainable Hydrogen Production via Ammonia Decomposition

This study reports the development of a highly efficient and sustainable Ru-based catalyst for ammonia (NH3) decomposition to generate hydrogen (H2), offering a promising solution for on-site hydrogen generation and addressing challenges in hydrogen storage and transportation.

The research investigated the influence of pretreatment atmosphere (oxidizing or reducing) and oxidation temperature on the activity of a Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst for NH3 decomposition. Results indicate that the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere significantly affects the catalyst structure, including Ru particle size and metal electronic properties, due to enhanced metal-support interaction (MSI).

Furthermore, the study reveals that chlorine (Cl) present in the RuCl3 precursor can inhibit NH3 decomposition activity. However, the introduction of alkali metal potassium (K) effectively improves the electron density of Ru, leading to a significant increase in the catalytic activity of the K-Ru/γ-Al2O3-R200W catalyst.

This optimized catalyst exhibits an impressive NH3 conversion efficiency of 97% at a high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 18,000 mL/gcat/h. Moreover, it demonstrates exceptional long-term stability, maintaining high activity for over 700 hours.

This research provides valuable insights for the development and large-scale application of ammonia decomposition technology for sustainable hydrogen production. The findings highlight the importance of controlling the pretreatment atmosphere, optimizing metal-support interactions, and utilizing promoters like potassium to enhance the performance and stability of Ru-based catalysts for efficient hydrogen generation from ammonia.