Atomic strategy to boost the solar heating ammonia decomposition of cobalt-based catalyst

[Display omitted] •Co single atoms supported on CeO2 nanosheets (SA Co/CeO2) were synthesized by green template method.•SA Co/CeO2 showed a H2 production rate of 29.1 mmol g−1 min−1 from ammonia decomposition at 450 °C.•SA Co/CeO2 could effectively reduce the energy barrier of ammonia decomposition.•The solar heating ammonia decomposition over SA Co/CeO2 showed a record H2 generation rate of 2.7 mmol g−1 min−1.•The H2 produced by solar heating ammonia decomposition can direct drive hydrogen fuel cell. Solar heating catalysis can solve the massively fossil energy consumption of ammonia decomposition to produce carbon-free hydrogen energy. Efficient and non-noble catalysts have always been the pursuit in solar heating ammonia decomposition. Herein, Co single atoms supported on CeO2 nanosheets (SA Co/CeO2) are synthesized and show the 29.1 mmol g−1 min−1 of H2 production rate from ammonia decomposition at 450 °C, which is 291 times higher than the corresponding Co nanoparticles and equivalent to the noble metal catalysts. Theoretical calculations illustrate that the SA Co/CeO2 can effectively reduce the energy barrier of nitrogen binding in ammonia decomposition, beneficial to the progress of ammonia decomposition reaction. The SA Co/CeO2 makes solar heating ammonia decomposition exhibit a stable H2 generation rate of 2.7 mmol g−1 min−1 under 2 suns irradiation, 572 times higher than the weak sunlight-driven ammonia decomposition, and the produced hydrogen can direct drive hydrogen fuel cell without any purification. This discovery not only opens a new route to develop ultra-active catalysts for ammonia decomposition but also demonstrates the potential of solar driven hydrogen fuel cell.