Carbon Advanced Reactive Membranes for Ammonia Synthesis and Decomposition

Description du projet

Green CARMA: l’avenir de l’ammoniac

La transition mondiale vers une énergie propre nécessite des moyens efficaces de stocker et de transporter l’hydrogène, l’ammoniac vert s’imposant comme un vecteur prometteur. Cependant, les méthodes actuelles de production et de décomposition de l’ammoniac restent très énergivores et inefficaces. Soutenu par le programme Actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie, le projet CARMA-SD s’attaquera à ce défi en développant une nouvelle classe de membranes catalytiques en carbone combinant réactions chimiques et séparation des gaz en une seule étape efficace. En intégrant des nanoparticules métalliques à ces matériaux, le projet vise à accroître la production tout en réduisant considérablement la consommation d’énergie. Au-delà des avancées scientifiques, CARMA-SD validera pour la première fois ces technologies durables, contribuant ainsi aux objectifs du pacte vert pour l’Europe et renforçant le leadership dans l’innovation en matière d’énergies renouvelables.

Objectif

The transition toward a decarbonized energy system requires efficient solutions for the large-scale storage and transport of renewable energy. Among the available options, ammonia (NH3) has recently emerged as a promising hydrogen carrier, thanks to its high hydrogen density, existing storage and distribution infrastructure, and well-established industrial know-how. However, the current synthesis and decomposition routes for ammonia remain highly energy-intensive and limited in efficiency, hindering the deployment of Green Ammonia as a practical energy vector.
The project CARMA-SD (Carbon Advanced Reactive Membranes for Ammonia Synthesis and Decomposition) aims to address this challenge by developing a new class of catalytic carbon membranes (CCMs). These membranes will be engineered with tailored porosity and functionalized with metallic nanoparticles, enabling them to simultaneously act as selective separation units and catalytic supports. By integrating catalytic and separation functionalities into a single material, CCMs are expected to significantly intensify both ammonia synthesis and decomposition processes, lowering energy demands and enhancing process performance.
The methodology combines advanced synthesis of carbon membranes, heterogeneous catalysis, kinetic modeling, and reactor engineering, leveraging the unique expertise of the host group at TU/e in membrane reactors and process intensification. The project will generate fundamental knowledge on CCMs and validate their performance for the first time in ammonia-related reactions. Beyond scientific advances, CARMA-SD will contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable Green Ammonia technologies, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and supporting the EU Green Deal objectives.