Ammonia production

A hybrid plasma electrocatalytic system for producing ammonia comprising:

• a discharge zone and a high voltage electrode, wherein the discharge zone is configured to receive a flow of gas therethrough and the high voltage electrode is adapted to generate an electric discharge in the discharge zone to produce a transient non-thermal plasma species from the inflow of gas or gas mixtures such as air and/or nitrogen;
• a gas impermeable dielectric barrier shielding the high voltage electrode from the discharge zone;
• a second and third electrode forming an electrolysis zone therebetween separating the electrolysis zone from the discharge zone, the second electrode comprising a nanostructured catalytic metal on a gas and/or plasma permeable support wherein the metal is located in and/or on a face of the second electrode abutting the electrolysis zone, and wherein the second and third electrodes being low voltage electrodes connectable to a low voltage source;
• an electrolyte in the electrolysis zone in contact with the second and third electrodes, the second electrode adapted to substantially prevent ingress of the electrolyte into the discharge zone;
• wherein the electrolysis zone is divided into anolyte and catholyte zones by an ion exchange membrane such that a first half-cell is bounded by the second electrode and the ion-exchange membrane, and a second half-cell is bounded by the ion-exchange membrane and the third electrode;
• a fourth electrode located in the discharge zone being gas permeable and wherein the electric discharge occurs between the high voltage electrode and the fourth electrode;
• wherein inflow gas within the discharge zone produces transient plasma species in presence of an electric discharge by the high voltage electrode;
• wherein the plasma species in the discharge zone contains highly reactive nitrogen species which diffuse through the gas permeable (second) electrode into the first half-cell;
• wherein a low voltage is applied between the gas permeable (second) electrode and the electrode (third electrode) in the second half-cell disposing the plasma species to electrocatalysis within the electrolysis zone so as to generate ammonia from the reactive species;
• and
• wherein ammonia exits the system through an outlet in the half-cell in which it is generated and isolated from the stream of electrolyte.