Ammonia-cracking catalyst holds potential for cheaper hydrogen supply
A new catalyst developed in South Korea could make it easier and more affordable to extract hydrogen from ammonia, which is a process that is becoming increasingly important for long-distance hydrogen transport.
The advance could support the development of global hydrogen supply chains by improving how efficiently ammonia can be converted back into hydrogen at its destination.
Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have created a cobalt-iron catalyst enhanced with cerium oxide, which achieved an ammonia conversion rate of 82% at 450°C in laboratory testing. This means that most of the ammonia fed into the system was successfully broken down into usable hydrogen and nitrogen.
Ammonia works well as a hydrogen carrier thanks to its high energy density and established global transport infrastructure. Cracking it back into hydrogen at the point of use is needed in sectors such as shipping, power, and industrial heat.
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