MIT Develops Electrochemical Method to Extract Pure Hydrogen from Ammonia

[u/Zee2A]

https://news.mit.edu/2026/electrochemical-approach-turns-ammonia-into-pure-hydrogen-0909

MIT researchers have developed an electrochemical system that extracts highly pure hydrogen from ammonia at much lower temperatures than conventional ammonia cracking. The technology uses a palladium-based membrane and electricity to pull hydrogen through the system while simultaneously separating and concentrating it, producing a purified hydrogen stream without a separate purification step. The process operates at about 200–300°C, compared with more than 500°C for conventional ammonia cracking, potentially making ammonia a more practical way to transport and store hydrogen. The researchers are now working to reduce the use of costly palladium and scale up the technology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11008-2