As we strive towards adopting net zero carbon technologies, new sources of alternative fuels must be developed. One of these potential fuels is hydrogen.  The key challenge with hydrogen is how is this produced at scale, and one solution to this is through the use of solid oxide electrolysers. These are electrochemical devices based on either an oxide ion or proton conducting electrolytic membrane, paired with ceramic electrodes with high electronic and ionic conductivities. The purpose of this research task is the development of new electrode materials for both types of cell that demonstrate both improved hydrogen production and increased durability.

One alternative approach to the generation of a hydrogen fuel is the use of an established hydrogen vector that has an existing transport infrastructure. This is the conversion of ammonia (NH₃) using novel new catalysts tuned to its decomposition. We have developed, and continue to develop, a range of new materials approaches to the conversion of ammonia to a hydrogen gas stream in which unconventional materials are explored. Our work involves the investigation of nitrides and oxide nitrides, as well as oxides that are known to exsolve active metallic nanoparticles that will increase H₂ production rates at lower temperatures.

To support the development of the electrode materials outlined above we use ¹⁸O₂ and D₂O isotopic labels to directly probe ion transport and provide kinetic data, notably diffusion and surface exchange coefficients, on electrodes and electrolytes for solid oxide cells. These measurements are able to distinguish mobile species in a range of environments, and now include the ability to measure the ion transport under an applied electrical load.