AMMONIA SYNTHESIS CATALYST AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

The present invention provides a rare earth oxide-supported noble metal catalyst which has a high catalytic activity, is greatly improved in the ammonia production activity per weight of the catalyst and per amount of the supported metal, and enables the synthesis of ammonia under mild conditions. The catalyst according to the present invention is characterized in that ruthenium is supported in a layered form on a praseodymium oxide carrier. The catalyst according to the present invention can be produced by burning a praseodymium oxide precursor at a lower temperature, then at a medium temperature and then at a higher temperature to produce praseodymium oxide, then agitating the resultant praseodymium oxide together with a ruthenium supply source in a solvent, then removing the solvent from the mixture, and then burning the resultant product.