Atomized potassium-assisted hydrogen generation from ammonia decomposition over ruthenium loaded carbon-based catalysts

Hydrogen generation from catalytic ammonia decomposition with high efficiency is significant to the evolution of hydrogen energy in diverse applications. Herein, a surface reconstruction strategy via atomized potassium decorated ruthenium loaded carbon material (K-Ru/C) is reported to facilitate the rate-determining step of nitrogen remobilization during ammonia decomposition process. Benefiting from the increased basic sites and the improved reaction kinetics induced by atomic K modification, K-Ru/C exhibits an excellent performance with a remarkable NH₃ conversion efficiency of 96.7 % at a high weight hourly space velocity of 30,000 mL·g_cat⁻¹·h⁻¹ and an encouraging H₂ generation rate of 32.4 mmol·g_cat⁻¹·min⁻¹ at 500 °C, much superior to that of Ru/C. Moreover, the high stability of 98.1 % in activity retention after 150 h consecutive reaction at 550 °C can be authenticated by the constant conversion without dimensional change of Ru nanoparticles during the decomposition process evidenced by operando characterization, revealing an enormous potential in practical application of efficient hydrogen generation from ammonia decomposition.