High temperature proton conductors are solid state materials which are of interest because they can be used in heterogeneous catalysis in order to modify electrochemically the rates of hydro- and dehydrogenation reactions. Many such materials exist but few are of real engineering interest because they also need to have high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. Such materials may be used in an electrolyte cell in the following configuration: Two porous metal film electrodes are deposited on the two sides of a disk made of a proton conducting material. One side is exposed to a hydrogen containing gas and serves as the anodic electrode while the other side (cathode) is exposed to a compound that can be hydrogenated via an exothermic chemical reaction. When placed in an electrical circuit, a proton flux is established and hydrogen is transferred from anode to cathode. Hydrogen reacts on the cathode while the electrical circuit converts the reaction free energy into electricity. Hence a useful chemical can be produced with simultaneous generation of electrical energy. The PI plans to test the proton conductor SrCe.95 Yb.05O3-a in such cells to produce ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen and C2 hydrocarbons (e.g. ethylene) from methane while simultaneously cogenerating electricity.
