Mixed Protonic-Electronic Conducting Cathode with Ru Nanoparticle Catalyst for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis Based on a Proton-Conducting BZCYYb Electrolyte
Abstract
Electrochemical ammonia synthesis (EAS) emerges as a promising alternative to the traditional HaberBosch process. Indeed, N2 activation in roomtemperature EAS systems remains a formidable challenge due to strong N≡N bond. Solid oxide protonic conductor EAS (PCEAS) electrolysis cells operating at intermediate temperatures offer a promising solution by utilizing both temperature and potential. In this process, the design of the cathode is crucial, requiring abundant proton and electron conduction channels, along with highly active catalysts. Herein, we design a cathode composed of rutheniumLa0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ (RuLSCFBZCYYb) to meet the aforementioned requirements for PCEAS. LSCF and BZCYYb form a porous skeleton at the cathode, with Ru nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of this structure. This configuration features numerous triplephase boundaries (TPB), facilitating the contact between activated N2, H+, and e−, thereby promoting electrochemical ammonia synthesis. The impregnated RuLSCFBZCYYb|BZCYYb|NiBZCYYb PCEAS electrolysis cell exhibited a maximum NH3 formation rate of 5.14 x 10−11 mol s−1 cm−2 and a maximum Faraday efficiency (FE) of 0.128% at 400 ˚C and −0.2 V with H2 and N2 as feedstock gases. Its yield surpassed those of the mixed RuLSCFBZCYYb|BZCYYb|NiBZCYYb and the impregnated RuBZCYYb|BZCYYb|NiBZCYYb by a factor of 3.9 and 11.5, respectively. The authenticity of ammonia synthesis is confirmed using the 15N2 isotope combined with NMR detection. This study also achieved EAS using water as the hydrogen source. This approach would better meet the future demand for EAS by directly using N2 and H2O.