Hydrogen production via thermochemical water-splitting by lithium redox reaction

Hydrogen production via thermochemical water-splitting by lithium redox reactions was investigated as energy conversion technique. The reaction system consists of three reactions, which are hydrogen generation by the reaction of lithium and lithium hydroxide, metal separation by thermolysis of lithium oxide, and oxygen generation by hydrolysis of lithium peroxide. The hydrogen generation reaction completed at 500 degrees C. The metal separation reaction is thermodynamically difficult because it requires about 3400 degrees C in equilibrium condition. However, it was indicated from experimental results that the reaction temperature was drastically reduced to 800 degrees C by using nonequilibrium technique. The hydrolysis reaction was exothermic reaction, and completed by heating up to 300 degrees C. Therefore, it was expected that the water-splitting by lithium redox reactions was possibly operated below 800 degrees C under nonequilibrium condition. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.