Self-organized Ruthenium-Barium Core-Shell Nanoparticles on a Mesoporous Calcium Amide Matrix for Efficient Low-Temperature Ammonia Synthesis

A low-temperature ammonia synthesis process is required for on-site synthesis. Barium-doped calcium amide (Ba-Ca(NH2)(2)) enhances the efficacy of ammonia synthesis mediated by Ru and Co by 2 orders of magnitude more than that of a conventional Ru catalyst at temperatures below 300 degrees C. Furthermore, the presented catalysts are superior to the wustite-based Fe catalyst, which is known as a highly active industrial catalyst at low temperatures and pressures. Nanosized Ru-Ba core-shell structures are self-organized on the Ba-Ca(NH2)(2) support during H-2 pretreatment, and the support material is simultaneously converted into a mesoporous structure with a high surface area (>100m(2)g(-1)). These self-organized nanostructures account for the high catalytic performance in low-temperature ammonia synthesis.