Cover story: In this work, we have explored a K-promoted Ru/CeO₂ catalyst for the photo-thermal NH₃ synthesis under continuous flow configuration. Thanks to the combination of light and heat, the optimized catalyst achieved an NH₃ production rate of 20 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 350 °C and 20 bar, representing one of the highest reported catalytic performances for a photo-thermal system. Mechanistic studies revealed that light-induced charge transfer processes accelerate NH₃ formation via an associative pathway. Beyond NH₃ synthesis, the catalyst also demonstrated high efficiency for NH₃ cracking, significantly improving conventional thermo-catalytic routes. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of Ru/CeO₂ catalysts for integrated photo-thermal NH₃ synthesis and decomposition, offering a promising pathway for sustainable NH₃-based energy storage and utilization.

Sousa, A.; Rendón-Patiño, A.; Wang, X.; Mateo, D.; Gascon, J. Low-Temperature Photo-Thermal Synthesis of Ammonia over K-Promoted Ru/CeO₂ Catalyst. Photocatalysis 2025, 1(1), 2.