H2 production by thermochemical water splitting with reticulated porous structures of ceria-based mixed oxide materials

In this work, we present for the first time the preparation and evaluation of Ceria-based mixed oxides reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) structures for H-2 production by thermochemical water splitting. After appropriate screening of the powder materials, ceria-based materials modified with Co, Mn and Zr were discarded due to their low cyclability and/or hydrogen productivity, derived from segregation of active phases or sintering during the thermal reduction and reoxidation. Sponge replica method has been optimized to allow obtaining a Ce(0.9)Fe(0.1)Oy RPC sponge structure with an outstanding hydrogen production of 15 STPcm(3/)g(material).cycle at a maximum temperature of 1300 degrees C. This better performance, comparing to the powder, can be attributed to the open macroporosity of the reticulated porous structure which enhances both heat and mass transfer. The H-2 production is maintained along several consecutive cycles without loss of activity, reinforcing the favorable prospects for large-scale hydrogen production. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.