Dispersed surface Ru ensembles on MgO(111) for catalytic ammonia decomposition

Abstract Ammonia is regarded as an energy vector for hydrogen storage, transport and utilization, which links to usage of renewable energies. However, efficient catalysts for ammonia decomposition and their underlying mechanism yet remain obscure. Here we report that atomically-dispersed Ru atoms on MgO support on its polar (111) facets {denoted as MgO(111)} show the highest rate of ammonia decomposition, as far as we are aware, than all catalysts reported in literature due to the strong metal-support interaction and efficient surface coupling reaction. We have carefully investigated the loading effect of Ru from atomic form to cluster/nanoparticle on MgO(111). Progressive increase of surface Ru concentration,…

• NF
  National Foundation for Science and Technology Development

  Award: 104.06-2020.50
• NI
  National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• DL
  Diamond Light Source
• UO
  University of Oxford
• CS
  China Scholarship Council
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council