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

Abstract

A low‐temperature ammonia synthesis process is required for on‐site synthesis. Barium‐doped calcium amide (Ba‐Ca(NH 2)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 °C. Furthermore, the presented catalysts are superior to the wüstite‐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(NH 2)2 support during H 2 pretreatment, and the support material is simultaneously converted into a mesoporous structure with a high surface area (>100 m 2 g−1). These self‐organized nanostructures account for the high catalytic performance in low‐temperature ammonia synthesis.