Ru/CeTX (T = Ti, Sc; X = Ge, Si) intermetallic catalysts for NH3 synthesis at low temperature (300 °C): insight into formulation and related mechanisms.

Because of its current and future intensive use, the synthesis of sustainable ammonia is of major concern. This study focuses on highlighting the mechanistic behaviours of NH 3 production from molecular nitrogen and hydrogen on ruthenium materials supported on cerium‐based ternary intermetallics. An interesting activity is reported for Ru/Ce TX materials ( T =Sc, Ti; X =Si, Ge) with an ammonia production rate around 0.60 mmol NH3 h −1 g −1 at only 300 °C and 1 bar. While the activity at 400 °C appeared attributable to the N≡N cleavage activation, this low‐temperature activity is no longer correlated with this parameter, but rather to the behaviour regarding hydrogen and especially the ability of cerium‐based intermetallic materials to desorb hydrogen from the structure, supporting an associative‐type mechanism.