# Ga-doped Ni/Al2O3 catalyst reaches 92.0% ammonia conversion at 500 °C in lab tests

- Published: 2026-11-05 22:11 UTC
- Section: Science › Chemistry
- Tags: ammonia decomposition, Ga-doped Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, low-temperature catalysis, COx-free hydrogen, hydrogen carrier, hydrogen spillover, interfacial Ga3+, nickel nanoparticles, Nature Communications, Zhengzhou University
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-8400d369b867707ca0550764_ga_doped_ni/

**Researchers from Zhengzhou University and partner institutes found that trace gallium raises the low-temperature activity of a nickel catalyst for decomposing ammonia into hydrogen.**

![Ga-doped Ni/Al2O3 catalyst reaches 92.0% ammonia conversion at 500 °C in lab tests](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/7c7abd8293360e2b.jpg)
*ENERGY.GOV, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

A research group from Zhengzhou University, together with colleagues from Henan Agricultural University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, reported in Nature Communications that trace gallium (Ga) doping markedly boosts the low-temperature activity of a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for ammonia decomposition [1]. According to the authors, the Ga-doped catalyst achieves 92.0% ammonia conversion at 500 °C and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 30,000 mL gcat−1 h−1 [1]. The work is a laboratory study of the catalyst.

## Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier

Ammonia is regarded as a promising hydrogen carrier for producing COx-free hydrogen. Its decomposition, however, suffers from high reaction temperatures, and this is the problem the study targets [1]. The authors describe the result as an efficient and stable Ni-based catalyst for low-temperature ammonia decomposition [1].

Kinetic experiments showed that introducing Ga species alleviates hydrogen poisoning of the catalyst [1]. This is one of the effects the authors link to the improved activity at lower temperature.

## Role of interfacial gallium

Further studies confirmed that Ga preferentially segregates on the catalyst surface and disperses around Ni nanoparticles [1]. The Ga species located at the interface facilitate hydrogen spillover from Ni to the Al2O3 support [1].

According to the authors, this spillover promotes the enrichment of adsorbed N* species and reduces their recombination temperature on the Ni surface [1]. The title of the paper attributes the enhancement to interfacial Ga3+.

The authors present the work as a strategy for optimizing catalytic performance by regulating interfacial hydrogen transfer [1]. The reported conversion was measured under the stated conditions of 500 °C and WHSV = 30,000 mL gcat−1 h−1; the abstract gives no other test conditions or figures.

## Sources

1. [Nature Communications](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78934-7)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-8400d369b867707ca0550764_ga_doped_ni/