Publications

High-temperature oxygen separation membranes for use in the sulfur-iodide thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production

Ambrosini, Andrea; Garino, Terry J.; Nenoff, T.M.

Efficient and environmentally sound methods of producing hydrogen are of great importance to the US as it progresses toward the H2 economy. Current studies are investigating the use of high temperature systems driven by nuclear and/or solar energy to drive thermochemical cycles for H2 production. These processes are advantageous since they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions that are a result of hydrogen production from electrolysis or hydrocarbon reformation. Double-substituted perovskites, A1-xSrxCo1-yBy O3-δ (A = Y, La; B = Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn) were synthesized for use as ceramic high-temperature oxygen separation membranes. The materials have promising oxygen sorption properties and were structurally robust under varying temperatures and atmospheres. Post-TGA powder diffraction patterns revealed no structural changes after the temperature and gas treatments, demonstrating the robustness of the material. The most promising material was the La0.1Sr0.9Co1-xMnx O3-δ perovskite. The oxygen sorption properties increased with increasing Mn doping.