Electricity-to-ammonia interconversion in protonic ceramic cells: advances, challenges and perspectives

Abstract

NH₃ is an attractive alternative fuel to hydrogen and methane, offering advantages such as easy compression at room temperature, straightforward storage and transportation, high volumetric energy density, and carbon-free nature. However, conventional NH₃ synthesis requires high temperatures and pressures, resulting in substantial energy consumption and increased equipment and maintenance costs. Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs), as a cutting-edge energy conversion technology, can realize NH₃ synthesis at moderate pressures and low-to-intermediate temperatures by utilizing surplus renewable electricity generated by wind and solar power. Additionally, PCCs can be employed to convert NH₃ into electricity to meet instantaneous demand, providing a means to address the seasonal and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Despite their potential, the commercial application of electricity-to-NH₃ interconversion in PCCs faces several challenges, primarily related to insufficient performance and durability. This review systematically explores the mechanisms and challenges of electricity-to-NH₃ interconversion in PCCs, highlights recent advancements in NH₃ synthesis using PCCs and direct NH₃-fueled proton ceramic fuel cells (DA-PCFCs), and discusses perspectives for realizing high-efficiency electricity-to-NH₃ interconversion. This review aims to establish a scientific foundation for efficient electricity-to-NH₃ interconversion via PCCs and provides critical insights for designing high-performance and durable PCC components.