Water splitting by MnFe2O4/Na2CO3 reversible redox reactions

Future energy systems must call upon clean and renewable sources capable of reducing associated CO2 emissions. The present research opens new perspectives for renewable energy-based hydrogen production by water splitting using metal oxide oxidation/reduction reactants. An earlier multicriteria assessment defined top priorities, with MnFe2O4/Na2CO3/H2O and Mn3O4/MnO/NaMnO2/H2O multistep redox cycles having the highest potential. The latter redox system was previously assessed and proven difficult to be conducted. The former redox system was hence experimentally investigated in the present research at the 0.5 to 250 g scale in isothermal thermogravimetry, an electrically heated furnace, and a concentrated solar reactor. Over 30 successive oxidation/reduction cycles were assessed, and the H-2 production efficiencies exceeded 98 % for the coprecipitated reactant after these multiple cycles. Tentative economics using a coprecipitated reactant revealed that 120 cycles are needed to achieve a 1 euro per kg H-2 cost. Improving the cheaper ball-milled reactant could reduce costs by approximately 30 %. The initial results confirm that future research is important.

Automated summary

Future energy systems must rely on clean and renewable sources to reduce CO2 emissions. This research explores the potential of using metal oxide oxidation/reduction reactants for hydrogen production through water splitting, and initial results are promising.