Preparation and CO2 capture properties of nanocrystalline Li2ZrO3 via an epoxide-mediated sol-gel process

Nanocrystalline lithium zirconate (Li2ZrO3) was successfully prepared by an epoxide-mediated sol-gel process. The compositions and morphologies of Li2ZrO3 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and the CO2 capture-regeneration properties of Li2ZrO3 were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The introduction of propylene oxide as an acid scavenger increases the pH value of the system to mediate the sol-gel transition. The as-dried xerogel is amorphous and the nano-sized Li2ZrO3 crystallites with a tetragonal phase precipitate after heat-treatment at 650 A degrees C. The nanocrystalline tetragonal-Li2ZrO3 exhibits a better CO2 capture properties, possessing an adsorption capacity as high as 21 wt.% at 550 A degrees C and a good stability confirmed by CO2 capture-regeneration cycles. Nanocrystalline Li2ZrO3 possessing good CO2 capture properties was successfully prepared by an epoxide-mediated sol-gel process. [GRAPHICS]