Ni-Ru supported on CeO2 obtained by mechanochemical milling for catalytic hydrogen production from ammonia

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110028
• Publication Date: 2024-05-21T02:14:37Z
• Authors: Ilaria Lucentini; Isabel Serrano; Xènia Garcia; Alba Garzón Manjón; Xinxin Hu; Jordi Arbiol; Laia Pascua-Solé; Jordi Prat; Edgar Eduardo Vil...; Carlo Marini; Carlos Escudero; Jordi Llorca
• Keywords: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Catàlisi; Science; Q; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Tecnologia energètica::Sistemes de transformació energètica; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; Catalysis; Article; Energy application

Developing active and stable catalysts for carbon-free hydrogen production is crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ammonia is a promising carbon-free hydrogen source, as it has a high hydrogen content and is liquid at low pressure, which allows its easy storage and transportation. We have recently developed a nickel-based catalyst with a small content of ruthenium supported on cerium oxide, which exhibits high activity and stability in ammonia decomposition. Here, we investigate mechanochemical milling for its synthesis, a faster and less energy-consuming technique than conventional ones. Results indicate that mechanochemical synthesis increases catalytic activity compared to the conventional incipient wetness impregnation method. The interaction between the metal precursors and the support is key in fine-tuning catalytic activity, which increases linearly with oxygen vacancies in the support. Moreover, the mechanochemical method modifies the oxidation state of Ni and Ru species, with a variation depending on the precursors.