Synthesis and CO2 capture properties of nanocrystalline lithium zirconate

Nanocrystalline tetragonal Li2ZrO3 was prepared by a novel soft-chemistry route, resulting in powders with good properties for CO2 capture at high temperatures. The CO2 capture and regeneration properties of the material were investigated by a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) in a wide range of temperatures and partial pressures of CO2. The nanocrystalline tetragonal Li2ZrO3 has superior CO2 capture and regeneration properties compared to monoclinic Li2ZrO3 prepared by solid-state synthesis. Moreover, the regeneration could be performed at a lower temperature, and a high stability of the CO2 capture/regeneration capacity was observed. The nanocrystalline tetragonal Li2ZrO3 opens new opportunities for the application of solid acceptors in CO2 capture in both post- and precombustion processes in power generation.