A research team led by Dr. Kee Young Koo from the Korea Institute of Energy Research has introduced a groundbreaking method for synthesizing ammonia decomposition catalysts. The innovation revolves around the use of ruthenium (Ru) catalysts, which enable swift ammonia decomposition at lower temperatures compared to traditional catalysts. Despite ruthenium's scarcity, the team has devised a cost-effective catalyst synthesis approach based on the polyol process. By controlling nanoparticle aggregation without capping agents, the team achieved remarkable results, with the catalyst showing significantly improved performance over existing options. The newly developed catalyst reduces activation energy, boosts hydrogen formation rates, and displays exceptional efficiency per unit volume. Dr. Koo emphasizes the practicality of this technology in overcoming mass production challenges associated with conventional nanocatalysts, fostering the localization and commercialization of ammonia decomposition catalysts. Moving forward, the team plans to validate the catalyst's performance through mass production and its integration into various ammonia cracking systems.