Reversible changes in color and crystal structures during storage and extraction of ammonia through chemical conversion
CREDIT: RIKEN
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have discovered a compound that uses a chemical reaction to store ammonia, potentially offering a safer and easier way to store this important chemical. This discovery, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on July 10, makes it possible not only to safely and conveniently store ammonia, but also the important hydrogen is carries. This finding should help lead the way to a decarbonized society with a practical hydrogen economy.
For society to make the switch from carbon-based to hydrogen-based energy, we need a safe way to store and transport hydrogen, which by itself is highly combustible. One way to do this is to store it as part of another molecule and extract it as needed. Ammonia, chemically written as NH3, makes a good hydrogen carrier because three hydrogen atoms are packed into each molecule, with almost 20% of ammonia being hydrogen by weight.
The problem, however, is that ammonia is a highly corrosive gas, making it difficult to store and use. Currently, ammonia is generally stored by liquefying it at temperatures well below freezing in pressure-resistant containers. Porous compounds can also store ammonia at room temperature and pressure, but storage capacity is low, and the ammonia cannot always be retrieved easily. The new study reports the discovery of a perovskite, a material with a distinctive repetitive crystal structure, which can easily store ammonia and also allows easy and complete retrieval at relatively low temperatures.
The research team led by Masuki Kawamoto at RIKEN CEMS focused on the perovskite ethylammonium lead iodide (EAPbI3), chemically written as CH3CH2NH3PbI3. They found that its one-dimensional columnar structure undergoes a chemical reaction with ammonia at room temperature and pressure, and dynamically transforms into a two-dimensional layered structure called lead iodide hydroxide, or Pb(OH)I. As a result of this process, ammonia is stored within the layered structure through chemical conversion. Thus, EAPbI3 can safely store corrosive ammonia gas as a nitrogen compound in a process that is much cheaper than liquification at -33°C (-27.4°F) in pressurized containers. Even more importantly, the process to retrieve the stored ammonia is just as simple.
“To our surprise, ammonia stored in ethylammonium lead iodide could be easily extracted by heating it gently,” says Kawamoto. The stored nitrogen compound undergoes a reverse reaction at 50°C (122°F) under vacuum and returns to ammonia. This temperature is much lower than the 150°C (302°F) or more that is needed to extract ammonia from porous compounds, making EAPbI3 an excellent medium for handling corrosive gases in a simple and cost-effective process. Additionally, after returning to the one-dimensional columnar structure, the perovskite can be reused, allowing ammonia to be repeatedly stored and extracted. An added bonus was that the normally yellow compound became white after the reaction. According to Kawamoto, “the compound’s ability to change color when storing ammonia means that color-based ammonia sensors can be developed to determine the amount of ammonia stored.”
The new storage method has several uses. In the short-term, the researchers have developed a safe method for storing ammonia, which already has multiple uses in society, from fertilizer to pharmaceuticals to textiles. “In the long-term,” says to co-author Yoshihiro Ito of RIKEN CEMS, “we hope that this simple and efficient method can be a part of the solution for achieving a decarbonized society through the use of ammonia as carbon-free hydrogen carrier.”
Original Article: A safe, easy, and affordable way to store and retrieve hydrogen
More from: RIKEN
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hydrogen storage
- Understanding the Challenges of Long-Distance Hydrogen Transport & Storage
Over the years, hydrogen has gained acclaim as a clean and efficient alternative to conventional fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. The International Energy Agency notes that global use of ...
- Hydrogen Storage Market to be Worth $38.3 Billion by 2031 - Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research®
According to a new market research report titled, 'Hydrogen Storage Market by Storage Solution (Tanks, Cylinders), Storage Type ...
- Hydrogen-powered Ligier race car to take to Le Mans
Bosch sees hydrogen as a potential fuel for motorsports and high-performance road cars in a world of zero carbon emissions.
- Ligier race car powered by Bosch hydrogen engine to take to Le Mans racetrack
According to Rüger, this testing was not only important for the powertrain but also for the high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks. The tanks store hydrogen in a gaseous state, at pressures of more than ...
- Researchers think old oil and gas reservoirs could be repurposed to store clean energy: 'Hydrogen would be good for seasonal and long-term storage'
Researchers from New Mexico's Sandia National Laboratories have a new tenant in mind for dirty gas and oil's old underground digs. By moving hydrogen into the subterranean reservoirs, the experts ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hydrogen transportation
- Understanding the Challenges of Long-Distance Hydrogen Transport & Storage
Over the years, hydrogen has gained acclaim as a clean and efficient alternative to conventional fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. The International Energy Agency notes that global use of ...
- Nikola expands hydrogen refueling network
New Hyla high-pressure modular station near the Port of Long Beach is part of the company’s plan to establish 14 operational sites by the end of 2024 ...
- Hydrogen Storage Market to be Worth $38.3 Billion by 2031 - Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research®
According to a new market research report titled, 'Hydrogen Storage Market by Storage Solution (Tanks, Cylinders), Storage Type (Physical Storage, Material-based Storage), Application (Fuel Cell, ...
- 6 Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft That’ll Hit the Skies in the Next Decade, From a Private Jet to a Flying Car
U.S. and European manufacturers have hydrogen-powered aircraft designs that could transform aviation by the decade's end.
- Students build prototype of world's first hydrogen-powered engine: 'A very significant milestone'
Major car manufacturers have been unable to make hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines widely available to consumers. However, a group of undergraduate students stepped in and built their own — ...