Dual confinement stabilizes highly dispersed Ru clusters for efficient and durable ammonia decomposition

Abstract

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier, yet the development of highly efficient catalysts for its decomposition remains a persistent challenge. Here, highly dispersed Ru clusters on an ultrasmall CeO₂/SiO₂ dual-confined support show metal–support interactions (MSI) that facilitate oxygen vacancy (O_v) generation and stabilize Ru clusters. This catalyst achieves a superior hydrogen production rate of 1735 mmol g_Ru⁻¹ min⁻¹ at 450 °C with high stability, offering a rational design strategy for high-performance catalysts.