Design strategies of highly selective nickel catalysts for H2 production via hydrous hydrazine decomposition: a review

Abstract Hydrazine, a widely used liquid propellant, has the potential to be employed as a hydrogen source in certain instances and has therefore attracted considerable attention; consequently, the complete decomposition of hydrazine with 100% H2 selectivity under mild conditions has become the current research focus for catalyst design. In this review, the strategies for the design of efficient catalysts are summarized for complete hydrazine decomposition. The first part of this review introduces the mechanism of hydrazine decomposition, while the second part illustrates the key factors influencing the H2 selectivity of nickel catalysts, including the effects of alloying, alkali promoter addition and strong metal–support interactions. Finally, the critical elements of catalyst design employed in industrial applications are analyzed.