Fe-Co/Al-CeZr-M multi-shelled nanosphere catalysts derived from self-templated synthesis for hydrogen production by ammonia decomposition

Abstract

Though ammonia is seen as a promising hydrogen storage carrier, the industrial application of ammonia-catalyzed hydrogen production is restricted by the expensiveness of efficient ruthenium-based catalysts. In this study, a series of multi-shelled hollow M_xO_y nanospheres were synthesized, serving as the basis for Fe-Co/Al-Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ catalysts for ammonia decomposition. A comparison was made between two preparation methods, self-template assembly (Fe-Co/Al-CeZr-M) and impregnation (Fe-Co/Al-CeZr-I), in terms of structural and catalytic performance differences. The catalytic performance and comprehensive characterization of samples indicate that the self-assembled Fe-Co/Al-CeZr-M catalyst performed superior catalytic activity, by which ammonia can be entirely decomposed under GHSV = 6,000 mL·g_cat^-1·h⁻¹ and 550°C, along with more excellent stability, and sintering resistance. This work offers valuable insights for developing efficient non-noble metal catalysts for ammonia decomposition-based hydrogen production.