A highly efficient and non-metal-loaded catalyst for ammonia dissociation at ambient conditions for hydrogen production

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier, but its catalytic dissociation typically requires high temperatures and costly metal-based catalysts. This study explores an energy-efficient strategy for hydrogen production by dissociating ammonia under ambient conditions using a nature-inspired cordierite catalyst activated by an electric field. The metal-free catalyst system achieved a record-high ammonia conversion rate exceeding 99.99% and an energy efficiency of 1.7 mol g cat −1 kWh −1 without external heating. Through comprehensive structural, electrical, and spectroscopic analyses, the work reveals that optimizing the crystal structure and electronic properties of the cordierite enhances discharge dynamics and promotes efficient electron-induced ammonia dissociation. 15 NH 3 isotope labeling experiments combined with kinetic modeling further show that tuning the catalyst's microstructure and surface characteristics regulates the rate-determining steps and boosts overall reaction efficiency. This approach demonstrates the potential of electric-field-assisted catalysis using Earth-abundant materials and offers a new direction for designing scalable, cost-effective systems for sustainable hydrogen production.