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Thermodynamic guiding principles of high-capacity phase transformation materials for splitting H2O and CO2 by thermochemical looping

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ta10391a· OSTI ID:1862336

Here, thermochemical looping splitting of water and carbon dioxide (CO2) with greenhouse-gas-free (GHG-free) energy has the potential to help address the Gt-scale GHG emissions challenge. Reaction thermodynamics largely contributes to the main bottlenecks of cost reduction for thermochemical looping water/CO2 splitting cycle. Here, we analyze thermodynamic driving forces in such cycles with two-phase ternary ferrites as model systems. We find that cation configurational entropy chiefly determines the change of partial molar entropy with oxygen stoichiometry. In addition, our phase diagram analysis accurately predicts the optimal Fe ratio for maximal water/CO2 splitting capacity in thermal reduction and in chemical reduction based cycles, underlining the significance of phase boundary positions. With chemical reduction, >10% CO2 conversion and high oxygen exchange capacity can both be achieved. Furthermore, our reduced Gibbs free energy model illustrates critical thermodynamic factors that influence the water/CO2 splitting capacity. Our research reveals the thermodynamic driving forces underlying the unconventional high-capacity Fe-poor ferrites, further explained via phase diagrams of Fe–Co–O, Fe–Ni–O and Fe–Mg–O. Future materials improvements can be guided by our reduced Gibbs free energy model.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Office of Naval Research (ONR); Stanford SUNCAT; Stanford TomKat
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; EE0008090
OSTI ID:
1862336
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1841269
OSTI ID: 1962555
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 10; ISSN 2050-7488
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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