Efficient Sunlight-Driven Ammonia Decomposition Toward Hydrogen Production Using Ru-Decorated GaN Nanowires
Key Ideas
  • Gallium nitride nanowires vertically aligned on silicon wafers with ruthenium nanoparticles show promise in efficiently converting ammonia to hydrogen using sunlight-driven ammonia decomposition.
  • The architecture demonstrated a high hydrogen evolution rate and exceptional long-term stability, with a turnover number exceeding 3,400,750 mol H2 per mole ruthenium over a 400-hour stability test.
  • Operando spectroscopic characterizations and computational investigations revealed the synergy between GaN and ruthenium in stabilizing key intermediates and lowering the activation energy for ammonia decomposition, enhancing hydrogen production efficiency.
Ammonia decomposition, a process converting 2NH3 into N2 and 3H2, presents a solution for hydrogen storage and distribution challenges due to its high storage density and ease of liquefaction. The article discusses the utilization of gallium nitride nanowires (GaN NWs) on silicon wafers as a semiconductor platform for solar-driven ammonia decomposition. By combining ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru NPs) with GaN NWs/Si, a photo-thermal-coupled catalytic architecture is developed, showing a substantial reduction in activation energy for NH3 decomposition. The hybrid architecture achieved a high hydrogen evolution rate and long-term stability, making it a promising system for on-site hydrogen generation. Operando spectroscopic and computational analyses highlighted the efficient charge carriers' management and enhanced catalytic activity. The study demonstrated the successful conversion of ammonia to hydrogen under sunlight, with the architecture's viability validated through outdoor tests. This innovative approach opens avenues to efficient hydrogen production through ammonia decomposition, leveraging the synergistic effects of GaN nanowires, silicon, and ruthenium for sustainable energy solutions.
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