Comparison of Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia by Using Sulfonated Polysulfone and Nafion Membrane with Sm1.5Sr0.5NiO4

Polysulfone (PSF) and sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectrum. Sm1.5Sr0.5NiO4 (SSN) and Ni-Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-delta (Ni-SDC, Ni-samarium doped ceria) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ammonia was synthesized from wet hydrogen and dry nitrogen with applied voltage, using SSN as cathode, Ni-SDC as anode, Nafion and SPSF as proton membrane respectively. The performances of Nafion and SPSF membranes in ammonia synthesis were investigated and compared at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (25-100 degrees C). The results demonstrated that the proton conducting performances of Nafion and SPSF membranes were similar and the highest rates of evolution of ammonia were up to 1.05 x 10(-8) and 1.03 x 10(-8) mol.cm(-2).s(-1) respectively at 80 degrees C and 2.5 V.