Engineers from UNSW Sydney have transformed a traditional silicon solar panel into a groundbreaking device that produces ammonia in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Ammonia is crucial for fertilisers that support global agriculture, but its traditional production generates significant greenhouse gas emissions due to fossil fuel reliance.
The innovative research, led by a team from UNSW, has been published in the Journal of Energy and Environmental Science. They have developed a process known as photoelectrocatalytics (PEC), using a nano-structured thin layer of copper and cobalt hydroxide on the panel to catalyse the chemical reaction, producing ammonium ions from nitrate-containing wastewater.
The 40cm² artificial leaf system installed at UNSW’s Tyree Energy Technologies building has successfully produced ammonium ions to fertilise 1.49m² of cropland. This method works at ambient conditions using sunlight, eliminating the need for high temperatures and pressures, which traditionally require fossil fuels.
This technology not only decentralises ammonia production, reducing CO₂ emissions from transportation but also offers a clean and cost-effective solution for utilising solar energy and chemical waste. The treated wastewater can potentially be used for irrigation, further benefiting agriculture.
The research team is seeking collaboration with industry partners to scale up the device and achieve commercial viability, contributing to emissions targets and the goal of Net Zero by 2050.
Image: Chen Han – UNSW
