Efficient ammonia synthesis in perovskite cathode-supported protonic ceramic electrochemical cell with dendritic porous structure

Ammonia is an essential chemical raw material and energy carrier, with its synthesis process being of significant importance to global agriculture and industrial production. Protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) show substantial potential in ammonia synthesis due to their high efficiency and environmentally friendly characteristics. In this study, a PCEC with a dendritic pore channel cathode is prepared as an efficient electrochemical cell for ammonia synthesis. A series of innovative improvements are implemented to optimize the ammonia synthesis performance of the PCEC. This study analyzes the impact of operating temperature and current density on the performance of PCECs during ammonia synthesis. By improving the atmosphere at the anode, the electrochemical performance and ammonia synthesis efficiency of the PCEC are enhanced. To further improve ammonia synthesis performance, Ru-GDC nanofiber catalysts are loaded into the structure of the PCEC cathode. This strategy increases the ammonia synthesis rate of the PCEC by 38.56 % and improves the Faraday efficiency by 41.58 %. This design not only enhances the electrical performance of the cell but also effectively mitigates the degradation of the interface between the PCEC cathode and the electrolyte. These optimizations extend the stable operating time of the cell from 16 h to 37 h, significantly improving its lifespan and reliability.