Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from N2 and H2O based on (Li,Na,K)2CO3–Ce0.8Gd0.18Ca0.02O2−δ composite electrolyte and CoFe2O4 cathode

Amar, I. A., Petit, C. T.G., Mann, G., Lan, R., Skabara, P. J. and Tao, S. (2014) Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from N2 and H2O based on (Li,Na,K)2CO3–Ce0.8Gd0.18Ca0.02O2−δ composite electrolyte and CoFe2O4 cathode. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(9), pp. 4322-4330. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.177) (PMID:29105332)

Abstract

Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from water vapour and nitrogen was investigated using an electrolytic cell based on CoFe2O4–Ce0.8Gd0.18Ca0.02O2−δ (CFO-CGDC), CGDC-ternary carbonate composite and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ–Ce0.8Gd0.18Ca0.02O2−δ (SSCo-CGDC) as cathode, electrolyte and anode respectively. CoFe2O4, CGDC and SCCo were prepared via a combined EDTA-citrate complexing sol–gel and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The AC ionic conductivities of the CGDC-carbonate composite were investigated under three different atmospheres (air, dry O2 and wet 5% H2–Ar). A tri-layer electrolytic cell was fabricated by a cost-effective one-step dry-pressing and co-firing process. Ammonia was successfully synthesised from water vapour and nitrogen under atmospheric pressure and the maximum rate of ammonia production was found to be 6.5 × 10−11 mol s−1 cm−2 at 400 °C and 1.6 V which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of previous report when ammonia was synthesised from N2 and H2O at 650 °C.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Skabara, Professor Peter
• Authors: Amar, I. A., Petit, C. T.G., Mann, G., Lan, R., Skabara, P. J., and Tao, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• ISSN (Online): 1879-3487
• Published Online: 08 February 2014