Comparative experimental investigations of the water decomposition with cerium and iron oxides reduced below 1600 °C

This study was performed for the direct compare of the potentially attractive 2-step solar thermochemical water decomposition cycles using metal oxide redox pair below 1600 °C. For comparative study, cerium and iron oxides were selected. Thermodynamic and experimental investigations have been performed to qualify and quantify the performances. High temperature thermal reduction of the metal oxides was performed below 1600 °C. Subsequently, furnace temperature was lowered to 1000 °C and water decomposition was conducted at 1000 °C without any further treatment like milling of the reduced metal oxides. XRD analysis was performed for the characterization of the reduced samples and the samples after water decomposition. Thermal sintering and melting of iron oxide during the thermal reduction at 1600 °C lead to inhibition of water vapor mass transfer, which result in poor hydrogen production. Cerium oxide did not show sever sintering and maintained hydrogen production ability during repeated test.