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Monash University is exploring emerging pathways to scalable and sustainable production of hydrogen and ammonia.
Areas of focus:
Seawater is the only feasible source for large-scale green hydrogen production through electrolysis, but the majority of existing low-temperature (<100°C) electrolyser devices cannot use seawater directly. The research of Dr Alexandr Simonov focuses on the development of an electrolyser system capable of splitting purified seawater to hydrogen and oxygen, with a specific emphasis on the development of electrocatalysts. Specific focus is on the durability of new materials and the overall system in an intermittent mode of operation to enable efficient coupling to renewable energy sources.
This projected is supported by the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership.
More details can be found here.
This project aims to develop novel perovskite-based catalysts with high catalytic activity and long-term stability for the practical application of alkaline water-splitting. A new family of overall water-splitting materials in alkaline media based on low-cost and earth-abundant perovskite oxides will be developed, which offer a viable alternative to the benchmark noble metal-based catalysts. Clean hydrogen energy generated by these efficient perovskite catalysts will not only reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alleviate air pollution, but also create opportunities for Australian industries, such as the widespread use of renewable solar and wind energy and fuel cell vehicles.
Reactive flash volatilisation (RFV) of biomass is a promising technology, able to produce hydrogen-rich syngas without formation of impurities in small-scale reactors. Monash University has worked extensively with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) to investigate the feasibility of RFV reactors for various feedstock such as wood, microalgae and grasses, and is currently investigating feedstock such as wheat, rice straw and bagasse.
A/Prof Akshat Tanksale, A/Prof Andrew Hoadley, Mr Prakash Aryal
2020 – In-situ reforming of biomass primary tars via reactive flash volatilization
2019 – Catalytic reactive flash volatilisation of microalgae to produce hydrogen or methane-rich syngas
2021 – Microalgae identified as clean source of hydrogen production: Monash study
Monash University has developed a technology for electrosynthesis of ammonia which holds the world record in efficiency under ambient conditions. The present project will further advance this technology by developing new electrodes that will provide higher ammonia production rate, longer lifetime and maintain high selectivity. These parameters determine the energy and capital costs of the process. The project will demonstrate the ammonia production rates from renewables that support cost-effective implementation of the technology at large scale, which will accelerate progress towards a practical and scalable process.
Prof Doug McFarlane, Dr Alexandr Simonov
2021 – Nitrogen reduction to ammonia at high efficiency and rates based on a phosphonium proton shuttle
2020 – A Roadmap to the Ammonia Economy
2022 – Monash University scientists achieve new ammonia breakthrough
2021 – Monash University exclusively licence green ammonia technology to new start-up, Jupiter Ionics
2021 – Breakthrough brings green ammonia production closer to reality