Tailored Ceramic Electrodes for High-Performance Protonic Ammonia Fuel Cells

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sanjay Mathur
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 573549755

Ammonia is considered a promising carbon-free energy carrier due to its easier storage and transportation compared to hydrogen. In high-temperature fuel cell stacks, ammonia can be thermocatalytically split into nitrogen and hydrogen, and the released hydrogen is subsequently electrochemically oxidized to water for electricity generation. While oxygen-ion-conducting fuel cells produce water at the anode, leading to fuel dilution and accelerated electrode material degradation, proton-conducting DA-SOFCs form water at the cathode, enabling higher efficiency and reduced NOx emissions. Therefore, CERAPACE focuses on the design and development of tailored electrode materials specifically optimized for proton-conducting direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells (DA-SOFCs). This joint proposal leverages the complementary strengths of the Singaporean and German partners with the central goal of investigating and optimizing (i) microstructural and chemical changes in ceramic electrodes that impair thermocatalytic efficiency, and (ii) incoherent electrolyte-electrode interfaces that limit ionic-electronic conductivity. This challenge is addressed through the complementary synthesis and functionalization of anode materials under the influence of external magnetic fields (UoC, Cologne), as well as through cryogel-assisted texturing of cathode materials (NUS, Singapore). Both electrode components will be processed on a BaCe1-xGdxO3-δ (BCGO) reference electrolyte. For anodic reactions, lanthanum-based perovskites (e.g., LaₓSrₓCoᵧFezO3, LSCF) will be specifically modified by functionalization with transition metal spinels (e.g., NiFe2O4, CoFe2O4) and ruthenium (Ru) to increase the efficiency of thermocatalytic ammonia decomposition. For the cathode materials, NUS is developing optimized BSCF composites (Ba0,5Sr0,5Co0,8Fe0,2O3₋δ) to ensure high oxygen reduction activity (ORR) and interfacial compatibility with the BCGO electrolyte. Electrochemical performance of the DA-SOFCs with the tailor-made electrode materials will be systematically evaluated in long-term tests and through subsequent post-mortem analyses of electrode materials. The technical objectives of this project include: (i) Chemical processing of anode materials with targeted control of microstructure and texture through calcination under external magnetic fields. (ii) Functionalization of anodes by immobilizing selected catalysts (e.g., Ru, MFe2O4 with M = Ni, Co). (iii) Development of high-performance cathode materials with defined porosity and density to optimize oxygen reduction. (iv) Fabrication of full cells by targeted deposition of cathode and anode layers on the reference electrolyte (BaCe1-xGdxO3-δ). (v) Comprehensive structural, chemical, and electrochemical characterization, as well as performance testing of the fabricated DA-SOFCs under operating conditions to validate the efficiency, durability, and scalability of the developed materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Singapore
• Partner Organisation: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Daniel Chua