Proton conducting membranes for hydrogen and ammonia production

Abstract

Hydrogen and ammonia are ubiquitous chemical raw materials with a wide range of industrial applications. Methane steam reforming and Haber–Bosch process are the most commonly used industrial technologies for hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis. However, these processes are energy intensive with high CO₂ emissions. In this review, promising technologies for hydrogen and ammonia production based on dense proton conducting membrane reactors are comprehensively introduced and relative developments and challenges are summarized, including membrane materials, operating temperatures, and hydrogen sources, along with their properties and performance. For each application, the future research goals to overcome relative challenges are analyzed, and the prospective developments to meet the industrial requirements are discussed.