Research on Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells as an Alternative Energy Source. Development of a Low Temperature Fuel Cell Prototype

Abstract

Fossil fuel reserves are consumed in increasing quantities and there is currently a great concern in central governments abou t the degree of environmental pollution affected during the last decades worldwide. Having energy is a necessity in modern life and possessing it will become, in the coming years, a good of high value in developed societies. Fuel cells are devices that allow the direct conversion of chemical energy contained in certain compounds such as hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, ammonia, into electrical energy. Alkaline fuel cells (AFC) have a much higher efficiency than those operating in an acid medium. Unlik e methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol, ammonia is a carbon-free compound, so it is not presented as a CO2 reaction product, this makes ammonia an ideal fuel for cells with zero emissions. Many researchers have already described ammonia as the fuel of the future. Ammonia production uses N2 of the air and H2 as a raw material through a well-known, simple and low-cost process, specifically using the Haber-Bosch process. In our country, we produce a surplus of NH3 of 80,000 tons / year, which is mostly exported. Since 2005, scientific publications have been increased with detailed studies of ammonia oxidation in alkaline medium and recently peak powers of 72 mW cm-2have been reported using a Direct Ammonia Alkaline Fuel Cell (DAAFC).

This thesis proposal aims to make specific contributions in the area of alternative and specific energies in the development of DAAFCs. The general objective is to develop direct ammonia alkaline cells as an alternative energy source that works at a lowtemperature using anion exchange solid membrane. In summary, the specific o bjectives will be:
-Synthesize and characterize physically and electrochemically electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
-Synthesize and characterize physically and electrochemically electrocatalysts for the reaction of ammonia oxidation (AOR).
-Develop electrode-membrane-electrode (MEAs) assemblies with the catalysts synthesized in the laboratory and evaluate said MEAs physically and electrochemically.
-Develop a prototype of Direct Ammonia Alkaline Fuel Cell (DAAFC).