Atomically dispersed Ce species adjacent to Ni nanoparticles as hydrogen scavengers for efficient catalytic ammonia decomposition
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: CeO2 serves as an essential support or promoter for catalysts in ammonia decomposition, especially those based on Ni, yet its direct contribution to promoting NH3 activation and H2 desorption has rarely been understood. Here, we prepare a Ni-Ce-Al trinary catalyst with high-loading (66.5 wt%) Ni nanoparticles. Connected by the Al2O3 framework, these Ni nanoparticles are surrounded by abundant atomically dispersed Ce species consisting of Ce single atoms and clusters. The activity-stability trade-off induced by intrinsic Ni sintering on the CeO2 support is overcome, achieving a high H2 production rate of 324.0 mmol gcat−1 min−1 at 600 °C. The promoting effect of CeO2 has been elucidated, originating from the alleviation of hydrogen poisoning. Atomically dispersed Ce species with high hydrogen affinity serve as scavengers for adsorbed H atoms (H*). The strong tendency to form Ce3+‒OH groups facilitates the migration of H* from Ni nanoparticles to the oxide, releasing poisoned Ni sites and promoting NH3 activation. Ammonia can store clean hydrogen, but nickel catalysts often lose activity during release. This study shows atomically dispersed cerium species help clear hydrogen from nickel sites, boosting ammonia decomposition.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Anhui University of Technology, Nankai University, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Deep Space Exploration Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Catalysis
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funders: Salt Science Research Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Ciências e da Tecnologia, University of Science and Technology of China, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Yulin University, Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy
Awards: G1038163838, G1099990828, G1207532831, G1473645869, G1793084838, G2302197838, G2374774132, G2395150428, G2617320564, G2665045998, G2901851005, G2942507398, G2971704865, G305281727, G3170438431, G3640745390, G3801927605, G4358731121, G4662015687, G5085971758, G5091153891, G518167496, G559394192, G5775441211, G7010568122, G7341678141, G739949171, G7716941418, G8703892158
OpenAlex ID: W7166740591