(584c) Thermochemical Performance of Ferrite Materials for Carbon Dioxide Splitting Processes

A class of iron oxide-based materials (ferrites), usually partially substituted with a second metal such as cobalt or nickel, and fabricated into composite monolithic structures with a yttria-stabilize zirconia (YSZ) carrier, has been applied to decompose carbon dioxide in a cyclic two-step thermochemical process using a concentrated solar energy thermal input. The resulting carbon monoxide fuel may be used to produce hydrogen via the water gas shift reaction. The realization of a practical carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen producing reactor based on these materials is dependent on their thermochemical performance, specifically on reaction extent and rate for both the high temperature thermal reduction step and the lower temperature carbon dioxide oxidation step. In this paper we present experimental results for reaction extent and rate for cobalt ferrite (CoxFe3-xO4, x=0.5-1) and discuss the expected performance of a solar carbon dioxide splitting device based on this material.