An international research team comprising members from Ruhr University Bochum, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Technische Universität Berlin, and the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa has made advancements in the efficient conversion of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen using an iron catalyst. This breakthrough sheds light on the crucial process of breaking down ammonia back into its components, hydrogen and nitrogen, for energy applications. The team's study, published in the journal ACS Catalysis, delves into the intricate details of ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion and the role of catalysts in enabling this transformation. The significance of this work lies in the potential for making hydrogen transportable through the conversion into ammonia, which offers advantages in terms of easier storage and transportation compared to liquefied hydrogen. Professor Martin Muhler, leading the research team, highlights the importance of efficient catalysts in the ammonia decomposition process, emphasizing the need to avoid undesirable reactions and focus on yielding nitrogen and hydrogen. The study showcases the team's in-depth analysis of the catalyst's behavior and the identification of iron nitrides formed during the reaction, offering insights for future catalyst development. Through a combination of experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and X-ray diffraction analysis, the team has provided a comprehensive understanding of the ammonia decomposition process. This knowledge can guide the development of more effective catalysts for efficient hydrogen production from ammonia, contributing to the advancement of green hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Professor Muhler envisions the utilization of these findings to drive the creation of superior catalysts that can enhance the synthesis and decomposition of ammonia, building on a legacy of scientific exploration in this field spanning over a century.