Effect of rare earth on the performance of Ru/MgAl-LDO catalysts for ammonia synthesis

Abstract

A series of MgAl-layered double oxides (LDO) doped with different rare-earth elements (Y, La, and Ce) were synthesized by the calcination of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides, and Ru, which were used to prepare ammonia synthesis catalysts. The as-obtained oxides and catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, TPD, TPR and XPS to understand their catalytic performances in ammonia synthesis. The H2-TPR and HRTEM studies reveal that Ru/Y-LDO catalyst possesses more active Ru metal and small particle size. The XPS demonstrates that the electronic interaction between Y and Ru metals is stronger, which can be tentatively explained by most of Y inserted into the hydrotalcites structure. CO2-TPD demonstrates that Ru/Y-LDO catalyst shows stronger basic site densities than catalysts doped with Ce and La. Higher activity of the Ru/Y-LDO catalyst can be attributed to smaller particle size, more active metal (Ru) and strong Ru–support interaction.