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 m(2) g(cat)(-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. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.