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

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. [Display omitted] •Mechanochemical synthesis is an efficient method for catalyst preparation•NiRu/CeO2 has proven to be a highly active catalyst for NH3 decomposition•The high activity is attributed to a high number of vacancies in CeO2 structure Catalysis; Energy application