Electrified Dynamically Responsive Ammonia Decomposition to Hydrogen Based on Magnetic Heating of a Ru Nanocatalyst

Storing and transporting pressurized or liquid hydrogen is expensive and hazardous. As a result, safer methods, such as chemical storage in ammonia, are becoming increasingly important. However, the instantaneous start of a conventionally heated decomposition reactor is challenging. Here we report on the electrified and dynamically responsive decomposition of ammonia as a means of releasing on-demand chemically bonded hydrogen based on the rapid magnetic heating of a well-designed Ru-based nanocomposite catalyst. Under relatively mild conditions (400 °C, 1 bar) a rapid decomposition rate of 5.33 mol_NH3 g_Ru ^-1 h^-1 was achieved. Experimental observations under non-isothermal, dynamic conditions coupled with modelling at the level of density functional theory and micro-kinetic modeling confirmed the minute-scale response of the H₂ release. The rapid response of our catalytic system would, at least in principle, enable the utilization of intermittent, renewable electricity and a tunable H₂/NH₃ ratio in the reactor's effluent.