Ammonia Electrolyser Catalyst for Hydrogen Production

Background

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly used chemicals on our planet: 150 million tons per annum are produced, mainly for use on our fields as fertilizer. A massive infrastructure already exists for the production, transportation and distribution of ammonia world-wide. Ammonia contains 18% hydrogen by weight: a third more than liquefied hydrogen and vastly more than chemically stored hydrogen. However, ammonia has not hitherto been considered for fuel cells because it had to be broken down by high temperature reforming, which is not suitable for mobile (automotive) use or for quick start up.

Acta's new technology releases the hydrogen from ammonia by electrolysis at room temperature using only a small electrical input, thus enabling a net output of electrons from the fuel cell and electrolyser system. This opens up the possibility of using on-board electrolysis of ammonia to feed vehicle fuel cells, or even combustion engines. The only exhaust would be water and nitrogen.

Partnerships

Acta is looking to demonstrate this concept but is particularly interested in developers and manufacturers of electrolysers who are interested in developing ammonia electrolysers with Acta’s catalysts/electrodes.

Advantages over Existing Technology

• Delivers a “power profit”: the PEM can power the electrolyser and an end application using the hydrogen output from the electrolyser
• Provides hydrogen supply from room temperature with excellent load following
• Delivers hydrogen at 0.4v, approximately 25% of the energy input required for water electrolysis
• Uses practical ammonia as a hydrogen carrier: cheap and almost universally available
• Can use almost no caustic KOH
• Uses less Pt than other reported electrolyser technologies
• Zero emissions: no CO2 emitted at point of use

Acta’s Technology

Acta has filed patent applications relating to its ammonia electrolyser catalyst and the alkaline membrane system in which it can be used.