Enhancing the Ammonia Catalytic Decomposition of Lanthanum Strontium Titanate Nickel Perovskite Catalysts via a Balanced Cation Doping and Deficiency Strategy

Hydrogen energy is considered to be a promising candidate in future energy. Ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production using perovskite catalysts plays a major role in ammonia-based fuel cells, such as solid oxide fuel cells and protonic ceramic fuel cells. Herein, a balanced cation deficiency strategy is presented for further enhancing the catalytic performance of lanthanum-based perovskite catalysts. A series of exsolved Ni-doped lanthanum strontium titanate nickel perovskite catalysts were investigated by introducing A-site defects and adjusting the La/Sr ratio. The derived La0.4Sr0.5Ti0.94Ni0.06O3−δ demonstrated 86% ammonia conversion efficiency at 700 °C. It was found that the further activation of active oxygen has a close relationship with the enhanced catalytic activity of ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production. The findings of this study have potential application prospects in the field of ammonia fuel cells.