Hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition using Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts – Insights into the effect of synthetic method

T. E. Bell; H. Ménard; J. M. González Carballo; R. Tooze; L. Torrente-Murciano

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.090

Hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition using Co/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts – Insights into the effect of synthetic method

T. E. Bell
, H. Ménard
, J. M. González Carballo
, R. Tooze
, L. Torrente-Murciano (Lead / Corresponding author)

Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

677 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Chemical hydrogen storage in molecules such as ammonia (>17 wt% H₂) have the unique potential to overcome the current storage and transport limitations of the H₂ economy. However, sustainable on-demand production of hydrogen via ammonia decomposition, requires the development of novel transition metal-based catalysts beyond the current use of highly active but expensive ruthenium to ensure economic feasibility. In this paper, we provide fundamental understanding of the effects of a range of synthetic methods of Co/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts on the resulting ammonia decomposition activity. The main activity determining factors are collectively the reducibility of the cobalt species and their particle size. This systematic work demonstrates that decreasing the cobalt particle size enhances the ammonia decomposition catalytic activity. However, a careful balance is required between a strong metal-support interaction leading to small particle sizes (promoted by precipitation methods) and the formation of inactive cobalt aluminate species (encouraged by adsorption methods). In addition, impurities such as boron and chloride remaining from particular synthetic methods were found to have detrimental effects on the activity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	27210-27220
Number of pages	11
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	45
Issue number	51
Early online date	7 Aug 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.090
Publication status	Published - 16 Oct 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Alumina
Ammonia decomposition
Cobalt
Heterogeneous catalysis
Hydrogen
Synthesis method

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.090

Author Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 1.1 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND
Supplementary InformationAccepted author manuscript, 56.5 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition using Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts – Insights into the effect of synthetic method",

abstract = "Chemical hydrogen storage in molecules such as ammonia (>17 wt\% H2) have the unique potential to overcome the current storage and transport limitations of the H2 economy. However, sustainable on-demand production of hydrogen via ammonia decomposition, requires the development of novel transition metal-based catalysts beyond the current use of highly active but expensive ruthenium to ensure economic feasibility. In this paper, we provide fundamental understanding of the effects of a range of synthetic methods of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts on the resulting ammonia decomposition activity. The main activity determining factors are collectively the reducibility of the cobalt species and their particle size. This systematic work demonstrates that decreasing the cobalt particle size enhances the ammonia decomposition catalytic activity. However, a careful balance is required between a strong metal-support interaction leading to small particle sizes (promoted by precipitation methods) and the formation of inactive cobalt aluminate species (encouraged by adsorption methods). In addition, impurities such as boron and chloride remaining from particular synthetic methods were found to have detrimental effects on the activity.",

keywords = "Alumina, Ammonia decomposition, Cobalt, Heterogeneous catalysis, Hydrogen, Synthesis method",

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year = "2020",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition using Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts – Insights into the effect of synthetic method

AU - Bell, T. E.

AU - Ménard, H.

AU - González Carballo, J. M.

AU - Tooze, R.

AU - Torrente-Murciano, L.

PY - 2020/10/16

Y1 - 2020/10/16

N2 - Chemical hydrogen storage in molecules such as ammonia (>17 wt% H2) have the unique potential to overcome the current storage and transport limitations of the H2 economy. However, sustainable on-demand production of hydrogen via ammonia decomposition, requires the development of novel transition metal-based catalysts beyond the current use of highly active but expensive ruthenium to ensure economic feasibility. In this paper, we provide fundamental understanding of the effects of a range of synthetic methods of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts on the resulting ammonia decomposition activity. The main activity determining factors are collectively the reducibility of the cobalt species and their particle size. This systematic work demonstrates that decreasing the cobalt particle size enhances the ammonia decomposition catalytic activity. However, a careful balance is required between a strong metal-support interaction leading to small particle sizes (promoted by precipitation methods) and the formation of inactive cobalt aluminate species (encouraged by adsorption methods). In addition, impurities such as boron and chloride remaining from particular synthetic methods were found to have detrimental effects on the activity.

AB - Chemical hydrogen storage in molecules such as ammonia (>17 wt% H2) have the unique potential to overcome the current storage and transport limitations of the H2 economy. However, sustainable on-demand production of hydrogen via ammonia decomposition, requires the development of novel transition metal-based catalysts beyond the current use of highly active but expensive ruthenium to ensure economic feasibility. In this paper, we provide fundamental understanding of the effects of a range of synthetic methods of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts on the resulting ammonia decomposition activity. The main activity determining factors are collectively the reducibility of the cobalt species and their particle size. This systematic work demonstrates that decreasing the cobalt particle size enhances the ammonia decomposition catalytic activity. However, a careful balance is required between a strong metal-support interaction leading to small particle sizes (promoted by precipitation methods) and the formation of inactive cobalt aluminate species (encouraged by adsorption methods). In addition, impurities such as boron and chloride remaining from particular synthetic methods were found to have detrimental effects on the activity.

KW - Alumina

KW - Ammonia decomposition

KW - Cobalt

KW - Heterogeneous catalysis

KW - Hydrogen

KW - Synthesis method

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