Proton Ceramic Membrane Reactor: Preparation and Low-temperature Ammonia Decomposition Performance

doi:10.15541/jim20250057

Abstract

Abstract: Ammonia (NH₃) has been considered as a hydrogen storage material due to high hydrogen storage density and ease to liquefaction, thus hydrogen (H₂) production by ammonia decomposition is an ideal method for hydrogen preparation. However, traditional ammonia decomposition technologies face challenges such as high operating temperatures, low efficiency at moderate temperatures, and difficulties in hydrogen purification. In this study, proton ceramic membrane reactor (PCMR) with symmetric structure of porous electrode Ni-BZCY/BZCY/Ni-BZCY (BZCY : BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-_δ) was prepared by co-pressing method. At 600 ℃, PCMR exhibited polarization impedances (R_p) of 0.11 and 0.23 Ω·cm² in H₂ and NH₃ atmospheres, respectively, with corresponding current densities of 1.87 and 1.56 A·cm^-2 at an applied voltage of 0.8 V. Even at 300 ℃ and 0.8 V, the current densities in H₂ and NH₃ remained at 0.16 and 0.06 A·cm^-2, respectively. The NH₃ conversion efficiency of PCMR reached 80% at 600 °C, improving by 8% compared to bare catalyst material. Even at 350 °C, an additional improvement of 0.3% can still be attained, and the NH₃ conversion efficiency of about 1% was demonstrated even at 300 ℃. This study provides a novel approach to low-temperature ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production.

Key words: hydrogen production by ammonia decomposition, low-temperature, proton ceramic membrane reactor, electrochemical properties, proton transport

CLC Number:

TK91

TANG Yang, LIU Limin, ZHOU Xiaoliang, ZHANG Bo, JIANG Xingzhou, JIA Haoyi, LUO Yanlinqing. Proton Ceramic Membrane Reactor: Preparation and Low-temperature Ammonia Decomposition Performance[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20250057.

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