Role of B5-Type Sites in Ru Catalysts used for the NH₃ Decomposition Reaction

A series of activated carbon supported Ru catalysts have been reduced at different temperatures under hydrogen flow, and in some cases under ammonia flow, in order to modify the morphology and the particle size of the metallic active sites. CO chemisorption and transmission electron microscopy have been applied to follow the variations of these particles. The samples have been tested in the ammonia decomposition reaction, where systematic differences in catalytic activities as consequence of the support modification as well as due to the changes in the Ru particle sizes have been detected. Furthermore when potassium is added as catalyst promoter the sintering of Ru particles is significantly diminished and thus the changes in catalytic activities are inhibited. The electronic states of the Ru particles have been evaluated by determination of the chemisorption heats of the CO probe molecule. A part of other promoter or support effects it seems to exit a critical mean size for Ru particles on where maximum of catalytic activity is achieved. This behavior can be rationalized by the presence of surface highly active B5 sites, which consist of an arrangement of three Ru atoms in one layer and two further Ru atoms in an internal layer. These especial surface sites are expected to be in a higher proportion over Ru crystallites of those critical sizes, namely for Ru diameter sizes in the rage of 3–5 nm.