Carbon Nanofiber-Supported Ru Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution by Ammonia Decomposition

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with fish-bone graphene alignment and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to support ruthenium for ammonia decomposition. The Ru nanoparticles on the CNF supports are more active than those on CNT supports. The Ru particle size was adjusted by changing the Ru loading or by introducing oxygen containing groups onto the CNF surface. The site activity increases when the Ru crystal size increases. The oxygen groups on the CNFs have a remarkable effect on ammonia decomposition over the Ru nanoparticles. On identically sized Ru crystals, oxygen on the CNFs clearly enhances ammonia decomposition over the Ru/CNFs.