Carbon-free sustainable energy technology: study of electrocatalysts for Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells

Abstract

Ammonia, an indirect hydrogen storage medium (containing 17.8 %wt H₂), could be an ideal carbon-free fuel for fuel cells. Direct ammonia alkaline fuel cells (DAAFC) employ alkaline anion exchange membranes (AEM). Besides high energy efficiency, they are compatible with non-precious or low-precious catalysts, which results in lower costs compared to proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Direct ammonia fuel cells still have low catalytic activity of the electrocatalysts and difficulty of ammonia oxidation at low temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate possible electrocatalysts that enhance the ammonia oxidation reaction. In this work, we seek to show the use or progress of electrocatalysts developed with low platinum content for the future advancement of DAAFC.