Synthesis of ammonia directly from wet air at intermediate temperature

For the first time, ammonia has been directly synthesised from wet air at intermediate temperature. Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2-δ (CGO)-(Li,Na,K)₂CO₃ electrolyte together with a new perovskite oxide Pr_0.6Ba_0.4Fe_0.8Cu_0.2O_3-δ were used for electrochemical synthesis of ammonia. An ammonia formation rate of 1.07×10^-6mols^-1m^-2 was obtained at 400°C when applied a voltage of 1.4V, while wet air was introduced to the single chamber reactor. This is just slightly lower than the value of 1.83×10^-6mols^-1m^-2 when wet N₂ was fed under the same experimental conditions. These values are two to three orders of magnitude higher than the reported ammonia formation rates when synthesised from N₂ and H₂O at ~600°C. The perovskite catalysts are also low cost compared to the Ru/MgO and Pt/C catalysts in previous reports.