Australian Researchers Make Breakthrough in Green Energy with Liquid Metals Discovery
Key Ideas
- Australian researchers from RMIT University, QUT, and the University of Sydney have discovered a more efficient way to produce ammonia using liquid metal droplets, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
- The breakthrough involves using liquid metal droplets made from copper and gallium as catalysts to break down ammonia's raw ingredients, with a 20% reduction in heat and a 98% reduction in pressure compared to the standard process.
- This discovery not only benefits ammonia production by slashing carbon emissions from fertiliser manufacturing but also has the potential to facilitate the transportation of hydrogen worldwide in a safer and more efficient manner by converting it into ammonia.
- RMIT University and QUT have filed for a patent on the process and plan to scale up testing, aligning with the Australian government's National Hydrogen Strategy aiming for 15 to 30 million tonnes of hydrogen production annually by 2050.
An Australian research team from RMIT University, QUT, and the University of Sydney has made a significant breakthrough involving liquid metals that could revolutionize the production of ammonia and the transportation of hydrogen. Published in the Nature Catalysis journal, the researchers have found a way to use liquid metal droplets made from copper and gallium to break down ammonia's raw ingredients more efficiently, with reduced heat and pressure requirements compared to conventional methods. This innovation not only aims to cut carbon emissions from ammonia production, which currently accounts for a significant portion of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, but also offers a safer and more efficient way to transport hydrogen by converting it into ammonia. The team's patent-pending discovery has the potential to play a crucial role in advancing green energy initiatives worldwide. By combining green ammonia production technology with hydrogen technologies, the researchers envision a future where green energy can be transported globally with minimal losses. The announcement of this breakthrough coincides with the Australian government's release of the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to boost hydrogen projects and set ambitious production targets by 2050. The researchers are now focused on scaling up their innovative process and collaborating with partners to further advance this promising technology.