Cerium oxide-based catalyst for low-temperature and efficient ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production research

This study prepared a series of cerium oxide-based catalysts with different metal ruthenium loadings using an initial wet impregnation method. The results demonstrate that the prepared 1.4Ru/CeO2 catalyst exhibits outstanding catalytic performance and activity stability. Under the condition where the Ru loading is only 1.4 wt%, the catalyst achieves almost complete NH3 conversion at 500 °C, with a hydrogen production rate of 16.59 mmol gcat−1 min−1. Furthermore, after a 48-h long-term test, the activity remains stable. Characterization tests show that the metal ruthenium is uniformly distributed on the surface of cerium dioxide, with particle sizes ranging from 3 to 6 nm. Notably, a structure characterized by lattice stripes overlapping between the metal and support is observed. Increasing the Ru loading can enhance the surface acidity sites of the catalyst and the interaction between the metal and the support, which plays a crucial role in the long-term stability of the catalyst. Additionally, the abundant oxygen vacancies in cerium dioxide and its low cerium oxidation-reduction potential facilitate electron transfer to ruthenium, enhancing the adsorption of NH3 and accelerating the desorption of N2.