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Title: Operational Limits of Redox Metal Oxides Performing Thermochemical Water Splitting

Journal Article · · Energy Technology

Solar thermochemical hydrogen production is an attractive technology that stores intermittent solar energy in the form of chemical bonds. Efficient operation requires the identification of a redox‐active metal oxide (MO x ) material that can achieve high conversion of water to hydrogen at minimal energy input. Water splitting occurs by consecutive reduction and reoxidation reactions of MO x . MO x is reduced to MO x − δ and, in the second step, is reoxidized by water recovering the initial MO x and generate H 2 . The material must reduce at temperatures achievable in concentrated solar receiver/reactors, while maintaining a thermodynamic driving force to split water. At equilibrium, extent of reduction depends on temperature and oxygen partial pressure, and in this analysis, a set of thermodynamic properties, namely, enthalpy and entropy of oxygen vacancy formation, is sufficient to represent MO x . Herein, a method to easily classify materials based on these thermodynamic properties under any condition of oxygen partial pressure and temperature is presented. This method is based on fundamental thermodynamic principles and is applicable for any redox material with known thermodynamic properties. Despite the simplicity of the method, it is believed that this analysis will support future research in targeting thermodynamic properties of redox‐active metal oxides.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); Department of Defense (DoD); ASU LightWorks; HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials Consortium; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AR0000991; EE0008090; EE0008991
OSTI ID:
1976328
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1798403
Journal Information:
Energy Technology, Vol. 10, Issue 1; ISSN 2194-4288
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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