Novel Hydroxide Ion Conductive Membranes for Advanced Ammonia Fuel Cell

R&D Focus Areas:
Advanced manufacturing, Separation materials and technologies, Nanomaterials

Lead Organisation:
Monash University

Partners:
University of Melbourne, CSIRO, University of Texas at Austin (United States), University of Warwick (United Kingdom)

Status:
Active

Start date:
February 2023

Completion date:
Estimated February 2026

Key contacts:
Lead Investigator Dr. Jun Lu – jun.lu1@monash.edu
Principal Mentor Professor Dr. Huanting Wang – huanting.wang@monash.edu

Funding:
AUD$462,414 –Australian Research Council

Project total cost:
AUD$462,414 – combined cash and in-kind contribution

Project summary description:
This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in the development of direct ammonia fuel cells for the utilisation of ammonia as a green energy carrier. It proposes to develop advanced hydroxide ion conductive membranes based on novel porous framework materials to achieve high hydroxide ion conductivity and lower ammonia crossover simultaneously, thereby substantially enhancing the energy efficiency of direct ammonia fuel cells.

The proposed research expects to create new knowledge in the fields of membrane science and energy. The successful development of advanced membranes will improve the efficiency of storage of intermittent and fluctuating renewable resources.

Building upon our fundamental understanding of ultrafast selective ion transport in porous framework materials-based nanochannel membranes, this project aims to develop the novel covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based membrane as the hydroxide exchange membrane (HEM) for ammonia fuel cell technology to address the unresolved challenges including the low hydroxide ion conductivity, cross-over of ammonia gas molecules, and low durability of conventional polymer membranes.

Related publications and key links:
None yet available.

Higher degree studies supported:
One to two PhD students at the Monash University department of Chemical Engineering will be supported by this project.

 

May 2023