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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/X03593X/1
Title: Catalytic Combustion of Ammonia as a Zero-Carbon Fuel: Catalyst Design and Mechanistic Studies
Principal Investigator: Zhu, Dr M
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
EDF Microtech Ceramics Samad Power Ltd
Sunborne Systems Limited
Department: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: New Investigator Award
Starts: 11 December 2023 Ends: 10 June 2025 Value (£): 182,113
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
15 Mar 2023 EPSRC Physical Sciences Prioritisation Panel - March 2023 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
A mature commodity that can be readily made from renewable resources, ammonia (NH3) offers an environmentally sustainable and low-cost means of transition from fossil fuels to a clean, low-carbon and renewable energy future. The technical challenge is to combust NH3 efficiently with low nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions due to the extremely low flame speed, narrow flammability and high nitrogen content in the fuel.

Catalytic combustion offers a promising technology to burn ammonia which is not constrained by the flame speed, flammability limits and have low combustion temperature to supress thermal-NOx formation. Development of cheap yet effective combustion catalysts is therefore needed. The combustion catalysts should be sufficiently active at low temperature for start-up and are able to sustain activity and mechanical integrity at high temperature and has negligible NOx formation in NH3 combustion. This research proposes to incorporate self-induced electrochemical promotion phenomena into the design of combustion catalysts using cheap transition metal oxides, and through this work, the new concept will be validated as a new combustion catalyst design strategy and the underlying structure-performance relationships of catalysts will be revealed. The scientific knowledge to be harnessed will enable the development of effective combustion catalysts to unlock a zero-carbon economy using ammonia as a fuel.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk