Highly efficient Ru/MgO catalysts for NH3 decomposition: Synthesis, characterization and promoter effect

Highly dispersed Ru nanoparticles exhibiting high catalytic activity in NH3 decomposition were prepared by a polyol reduction method. The physicochemical properties were studied using nitrogen physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microcopy (TEM) and thermogravimetry (TG). BET measurements showed the obtained Ru/MgO mesoporous material possessed a surface area as high as 151 m2gcat-1. As evidenced by TEM images, the particle size of Ru ranged narrowly from 1.2 to 2.3 nm. XRD examination revealed that the MgO particles as the support with mean size of 8 nm were successfully synthesized. Different alkali metal salts were added as the promoter through conventional impregnation, by which the catalytic activity could be significantly enhanced.