The Korean Society of Surface Science and Engineering

Hydrogen is an alternative energy source to achieve decarbonization, However, storage and transportation costs are expensive. Hydrogen carriers are attracting attention for cost-effective hydrogen production, and ammonia is the most promising material. This article explores the potential of sustainable hydrogen production through ammonia decomposition using various plasma sources with/without catalysts, and compare the hydrogen production efficiency including dielectric barrier discharge(DBD), microwave plasma, and gliding arc discharge. Additionally, we evaluate the technology readiness levels(TRLs) of these plasma processes compared to other existing ammonia decomposition technologies such as only catalytic methods and electrolysis. The results reveal the advantages and limitations of each source in terms of energy efficiency, and scalability. In addition, we suggest the possibility of thermal plasma for the large-scale hydrogen production. Our findings provide valuable insights into the feasibility and practical implementation of plasma technologies for sustainable hydrogen production, contributing to the advancement of clean energy solutions and the reduction of global carbon emissions.

Keywords Plasma; Ammonia decomposition; Hydrogen production; Green Hydrogen.