This study showed the feasibility of green production of ammonia using nitrogen and steam through electrocatalytic approaches through solid oxide electrolysis cells. The SOEC devices were assembled using a co-doped composite of LaxSr1-xCryFe1-yO3-d and GdxCe1-xO2 as cathode and BaCo0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-d-GDC as anode. The operational conditions to produce NH3 uisng air and steam were controlled in the various temperature ranges (400-700 °C) and applied voltage (1.4-2.0V). It was found that an in-situ exsolved noble metal (ruthenium) decorated cathode electrocatalyst doubled the ammonia production rate, compared with the non-decorated catalyst under the similar operational conditions. This improvement was attributed to two reasons: (i) Ru NPs anchored on the surface of perovskite catalyst enabled the formation of a triple-phase boundary and more oxygen vacancies, promoting the migration of the oxygen ions; (iii) In-situ exsolution of Ru NPs composed well-distributed distinguishable atoms, acting as active sites for N2 adsorption to facilitate the ammonia synthesis reaction.

Green synthesis of ammonia using solid oxide electrolyzer cells composed of single atomic modified Perovskite Composites

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ACS Fall 2022

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