Ni catalysts with high surface areas were prepared from Mg-Al hydrotalcite-like compounds containing Ni with different Mg-to-Al ratios for the production of hydrogen via ammonia decomposition. At atomic ratios of Mg-to-Al from 3:1 to 6:1, Ni reduction was greater than 90%, and the amounts of Ni-0 exposed were kept at more than 200 mu mol g(-1). With the increase in Mg-to-Al ratio, turnover frequency was increased due to an increase in the basicity of the support. Of the catalysts examined, Ni_MgAl(6:1) exhibited the highest NH3 conversion, which was attributed to its relatively high basicity and large amount of Ni exposed. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.