Oxidation of Ru/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2–x at Ambient Temperature as a Trigger for Carbon-Free H2 Production by Ammonia Oxidative Decomposition

Ammonia has received attention as a hydrogen carrier for energy use, and although ammonia decomposition can produce hydrogen at a high rate, there is currently no simple process for decomposing ammonia that is easily and rapidly initiated at any time without an input of external energy. Here, we report the discovery of a process for initiating and sustaining the production of hydrogen from ammonia without heating the catalyst externally. The oxidative decomposition of ammonia to produce hydrogen at a high rate was repeatedly triggered at ambient temperature (∼25 °C) immediately after NH3 and O2 were supplied to a Ru/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst that had been previously reduced at ambient temperature. For this catalyst, active hydrogen atoms formed on Ru0 nanoparticles reduced Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 even at ambient temperature, and the very exothermic oxidation of Ce0.5Zr0.5O2–x as well as Ru0 heated the catalyst bed to the catalytic auto-ignition temperature for ammonia combustion, which was lowered by the contribution of mobile (active) oxygen over the Ce0.5Zr0.5O2. Oxidative ammonia decomposition was thereby triggered.