Understanding Direct-Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells: High-Performance in the Absence of Precious Metal Catalysts

Yun, Jiwon; Xiong, Grace; Kim, Seungchan; Bardgett, Dylan; Choi, Sihyuk; Haile, Sossina M.

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.4c02263

Title: Understanding Direct-Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells: High-Performance in the Absence of Precious Metal Catalysts

Journal Article · 24 October 2024 · ACS Energy Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c02263 · OSTI ID:2477680

Yun, Jiwon ^[1]; Xiong, Grace ^[2]; Kim, Seungchan ^[3]; Bardgett, Dylan ^[2];

^[4];

^[2]

Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gyeongbuk (Korea, Republic of); Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)
Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gyeongbuk (Korea, Republic of)
Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gyeongbuk (Korea, Republic of); Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gyeongbuk (Korea, Republic of); Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)

Ammonia has received considerable attention as a promising carbon-free hydrogen carrier. At temperatures above 400 °C, NH₃ is thermodynamically unstable with respect to decomposition into nitrogen and hydrogen and is, thus, suitable for direct use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) without external reforming. However, poor catalytic activity for ammonia decomposition at the moderate temperatures of protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) operation has resulted in low fuel cell power output relative to operation on hydrogen and likely contributes to reported cell degradation. Here we prepared cells based on a thermodynamically robust electrolyte, a high activity cathode, and an anode with a distinctive structure to overcome challenges of poor activity and stability. Furthermore, the cells delivered peak power densities of 0.59 and 0.44 W cm^–2under H₂ and NH₃, respectively, at 500 °C, excellent stability over a period of 200 h, and no detectable NO_x in the anode exhaust gas.

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Research Organization:: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Research Foundation (NRF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0023450

OSTI ID:: 2477680

Journal Information:: ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 9; ISSN 2380-8195

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
Ammonia
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Title: Understanding Direct-Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells: High-Performance in the Absence of Precious Metal Catalysts

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