Manufacturing conductive oxides as catalyst support for energy efficient production of hydrogen and ammonia

The project's aim is to significantly enhance production rate of hydrogen and ammonia by transforming conventional insulating catalyst support oxides based on silica, alumina and zirconia into conductors that conduct electrons, protons and oxide ions via a combination of manufacturing techniques and defect chemistry engineering.
Objectives:
1. To establish manufacturing protocols and chemical doping strategies for transforming highly insulating oxides with ultra-wide bandgap into to conductors via a combination of manufacturing and chemical doping.
2. To understand the relationships between manufacturing protocols, composition, structure, and electrical properties of oxides.
3. To test and significantly enhance production rate hydrogen and ammonia by utilising the conductive oxides as catalyst support materials.
Deliverables:
1. New catalyst support oxides conducting either electrons (e.g., Al2O3), or oxide ions and electrons (e.g., yttria-stabilized zirconia), or oxide ion, protons and electrons (e.g., Y doped BaZrO3)
2. Manufacturing protocols and compositional designs for synthesising conductive oxides
3. Defect chemistry and electrical conduction mechanisms in the new conductive oxides
4. Next-generation proton exchange membrane electrolysers and ammonia production technology with lower energy consumption, lower costs, and longer lifetime.