IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i19p7061-d925391.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Redox Cycles, Active Materials, and Reactors Applied to Water and Carbon Dioxide Splitting for Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Stéphane Abanades

    (Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 66120 Font-Romeu, France)

Abstract

The solar thermochemical two-step splitting of H 2 O and CO 2 based on metal oxide compounds is a promising path for clean and efficient generation of hydrogen and renewable synthetic fuels. The two-step process is based on the endothermic solar thermal reduction of a metal oxide releasing O 2 using a high-temperature concentrated solar heat source, followed by the exothermic oxidation of the reduced oxide with H 2 O and/or CO 2 to generate pure H 2 and/or CO. This pathway relates to one of the emerging and most promising processes for solar thermochemical fuel production encompassing green H 2 and the recycling/valorization of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. It represents an efficient route for solar energy conversion and storage into renewable and dispatchable fuels, by directly converting the whole solar spectrum using heat delivered by concentrating systems. This eliminates the need for photocatalysts or intermediate electricity production, thus bypassing the main limitations of the low-efficient photochemical and electrochemical routes currently seen as the main green methods for solar fuel production. In this context, among the relevant potential redox materials, thermochemical cycles based on volatile and non-volatile metal oxides are particularly attractive. Most redox pairs in two-step cycles proceed with a phase change (solid-to-gas or solid-to-liquid) during the reduction step, which can be avoided by using non-stoichiometric oxides (chiefly, spinel, fluorite, or perovskite-structured materials) through the creation of oxygen vacancies in the lattice. The oxygen sub-stoichiometry determines the oxygen exchange capacity, thus determining the fuel production output per mass of redox-active material. This paper provides an overview of the most advanced cycles involving ZnO/Zn, SnO 2 /SnO, Fe 3 O 4 /FeO, ferrites, ceria, and perovskites redox systems by focusing on their ability to perform H 2 O and CO 2 splitting during two-step thermochemical cycles with high fuel production yields, rapid reaction rates, and performance stability. Furthermore, the possible routes for redox-active material integration and processing in various solar reactor technologies are also described.

Suggested Citation

  • Stéphane Abanades, 2022. "Redox Cycles, Active Materials, and Reactors Applied to Water and Carbon Dioxide Splitting for Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-28, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:19:p:7061-:d:925391
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7061/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7061/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christoph Falter & Andreas Sizmann, 2021. "Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production in the USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Massimo Moser & Matteo Pecchi & Thomas Fend, 2019. "Techno-Economic Assessment of Solar Hydrogen Production by Means of Thermo-Chemical Cycles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Elena Rozzi & Francesco Demetrio Minuto & Andrea Lanzini & Pierluigi Leone, 2020. "Green Synthetic Fuels: Renewable Routes for the Conversion of Non-Fossil Feedstocks into Gaseous Fuels and Their End Uses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-96, January.
    4. Xiao, Lan & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Li, You-Rong, 2012. "Advances in solar hydrogen production via two-step water-splitting thermochemical cycles based on metal redox reactions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-12.
    5. Stéphane Abanades & Sylvain Rodat & Houssame Boujjat, 2021. "Solar Thermochemical Green Fuels Production: A Review of Biomass Pyro-Gasification, Solar Reactor Concepts and Modelling Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-33, March.
    6. Rhodes, Nathan R. & Bobek, Michael M. & Allen, Kyle M. & Hahn, David W., 2015. "Investigation of long term reactive stability of ceria for use in solar thermochemical cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 924-931.
    7. Alonso, Elisa & Romero, Manuel, 2015. "Review of experimental investigation on directly irradiated particles solar reactors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 53-67.
    8. Ji, Guozhao & Yang, Hang & Memon, Muhammad Zaki & Gao, Yuan & Qu, Boyu & Fu, Weng & Olguin, Gianni & Zhao, Ming & Li, Aimin, 2020. "Recent advances on kinetics of carbon dioxide capture using solid sorbents at elevated temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    9. Srirat Chuayboon & Stéphane Abanades, 2020. "Solar Metallurgy for Sustainable Zn and Mg Production in a Vacuum Reactor Using Concentrated Sunlight," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Ma, Zhiwen & Davenport, Patrick & Saur, Genevieve, 2022. "System and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermochemical hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 294-308.
    11. Kong, Hui & Hao, Yong & Jin, Hongguang, 2018. "Isothermal versus two-temperature solar thermochemical fuel synthesis: A comparative study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 301-308.
    12. Davenport, Timothy C. & Yang, Chih-Kai & Kucharczyk, Christopher J. & Ignatowich, Michael J. & Haile, Sossina M., 2016. "Maximizing fuel production rates in isothermal solar thermochemical fuel production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1098-1111.
    13. Koepf, E. & Villasmil, W. & Meier, A., 2016. "Pilot-scale solar reactor operation and characterization for fuel production via the Zn/ZnO thermochemical cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1004-1023.
    14. Elena Rozzi & Francesco Demetrio Minuto & Andrea Lanzini & Pierluigi Leone, 2020. "Addendum: Rozzi, E.; Minuto, F.D.; Lanzini, A.; Leone, P. Green Synthetic Fuels: Renewable Routes for the Conversion of Non-Fossil Feedstocks into Gaseous Fuels and Their End Uses. Energies 2020, 13, ," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-1, March.
    15. Hoskins, Amanda L. & Millican, Samantha L. & Czernik, Caitlin E. & Alshankiti, Ibraheam & Netter, Judy C. & Wendelin, Timothy J. & Musgrave, Charles B. & Weimer, Alan W., 2019. "Continuous on-sun solar thermochemical hydrogen production via an isothermal redox cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C), pages 368-376.
    16. Abanades, Stéphane & Charvin, Patrice & Flamant, Gilles & Neveu, Pierre, 2006. "Screening of water-splitting thermochemical cycles potentially attractive for hydrogen production by concentrated solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(14), pages 2805-2822.
    17. Charvin, Patrice & Abanades, Stéphane & Flamant, Gilles & Lemort, Florent, 2007. "Two-step water splitting thermochemical cycle based on iron oxide redox pair for solar hydrogen production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 1124-1133.
    18. Haeussler, Anita & Abanades, Stéphane & Julbe, Anne & Jouannaux, Julien & Cartoixa, Bruno, 2020. "Solar thermochemical fuel production from H2O and CO2 splitting via two-step redox cycling of reticulated porous ceria structures integrated in a monolithic cavity-type reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    19. Enric Prats-Salvado & Nathalie Monnerie & Christian Sattler, 2021. "Synergies between Direct Air Capture Technologies and Solar Thermochemical Cycles in the Production of Methanol," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    20. Christoph Falter & Niklas Scharfenberg & Antoine Habersetzer, 2020. "Geographical Potential of Solar Thermochemical Jet Fuel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-32, February.
    21. Christopher L. Muhich & Brian D. Ehrhart & Ibraheam Al-Shankiti & Barbara J. Ward & Charles B. Musgrave & Alan W. Weimer, 2016. "A review and perspective of efficient hydrogen generation via solar thermal water splitting," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(3), pages 261-287, May.
    22. Gokon, Nobuyuki & Hasegawa, Tomoki & Takahashi, Shingo & Kodama, Tatsuya, 2008. "Thermochemical two-step water-splitting for hydrogen production using Fe-YSZ particles and a ceramic foam device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1407-1416.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rahul R. Bhosale, 2023. "Recent Developments in Ceria-Driven Solar Thermochemical Water and Carbon Dioxide Splitting Redox Cycle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-30, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mao, Yanpeng & Gao, Yibo & Dong, Wei & Wu, Han & Song, Zhanlong & Zhao, Xiqiang & Sun, Jing & Wang, Wenlong, 2020. "Hydrogen production via a two-step water splitting thermochemical cycle based on metal oxide – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    2. Kong, Hui & Hao, Yong & Jin, Hongguang, 2018. "Isothermal versus two-temperature solar thermochemical fuel synthesis: A comparative study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 301-308.
    3. Alvarez Rivero, M. & Rodrigues, D. & Pinheiro, C.I.C. & Cardoso, J.P. & Mendes, L.F., 2022. "Solid–gas reactors driven by concentrated solar energy with potential application to calcium looping: A comparative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Koepf, E. & Alxneit, I. & Wieckert, C. & Meier, A., 2017. "A review of high temperature solar driven reactor technology: 25years of experience in research and development at the Paul Scherrer Institute," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 620-651.
    5. Gao, Yibo & Mao, Yanpeng & Song, Zhanlong & Zhao, Xiqiang & Sun, Jing & Wang, Wenlong & Chen, Guifang & Chen, Shouyan, 2020. "Efficient generation of hydrogen by two-step thermochemical cycles: Successive thermal reduction and water splitting reactions using equal-power microwave irradiation and a high entropy material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    6. Daphne Oudejans & Michele Offidani & Achilleas Constantinou & Stefania Albonetti & Nikolaos Dimitratos & Atul Bansode, 2022. "A Comprehensive Review on Two-Step Thermochemical Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production in a Redox Cycle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    7. Mohsen Fallah Vostakola & Babak Salamatinia & Bahman Amini Horri, 2022. "A Review on Recent Progress in the Integrated Green Hydrogen Production Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-41, February.
    8. Yadav, Deepak & Banerjee, Rangan, 2016. "A review of solar thermochemical processes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 497-532.
    9. Agrafiotis, Christos & Roeb, Martin & Sattler, Christian, 2015. "A review on solar thermal syngas production via redox pair-based water/carbon dioxide splitting thermochemical cycles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 254-285.
    10. Yadav, Deepak & Banerjee, Rangan, 2022. "Thermodynamic and economic analysis of the solar carbothermal and hydrometallurgy routes for zinc production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    11. Gabriel Zsembinszki & Aran Solé & Camila Barreneche & Cristina Prieto & A. Inés Fernández & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2018. "Review of Reactors with Potential Use in Thermochemical Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, September.
    12. Lucía Arribas & José González-Aguilar & Manuel Romero, 2018. "Solar-Driven Thermochemical Water-Splitting by Cerium Oxide: Determination of Operational Conditions in a Directly Irradiated Fixed Bed Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-15, September.
    13. Lidor, A. & Fend, T. & Roeb, M. & Sattler, C., 2021. "High performance solar receiver–reactor for hydrogen generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1217-1232.
    14. Song, Lee-hwa & Kang, Hyun Woo & Park, Seung Bin, 2012. "Thermally stable iron based redox catalysts for the thermo-chemical hydrogen generation from water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 313-320.
    15. Kong, Hui & Kong, Xianghui & Wang, Jian & Zhang, Jun, 2019. "Thermodynamic analysis of a solar thermochemical cycle-based direct coal liquefaction system for oil production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1279-1287.
    16. Wang, Bo & Li, Xian & Zhu, Xuancan & Wang, Yuesen & Tian, Tian & Dai, Yanjun & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2023. "An epitrochoidal rotary reactor for solar-driven hydrogen production based on the redox cycling of ceria: Thermodynamic analysis and geometry optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    17. Eugenio Meloni & Marco Martino & Giuseppina Iervolino & Concetta Ruocco & Simona Renda & Giovanni Festa & Vincenzo Palma, 2022. "The Route from Green H 2 Production through Bioethanol Reforming to CO 2 Catalytic Conversion: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-36, March.
    18. Rhodes, Nathan R. & Bobek, Michael M. & Allen, Kyle M. & Hahn, David W., 2015. "Investigation of long term reactive stability of ceria for use in solar thermochemical cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 924-931.
    19. Vidal, Alfonso & Gonzalez, Aurelio & Denk, Thorsten, 2020. "A 100 kW cavity-receiver reactor with an integrated two-step thermochemical cycle: Thermal performance under solar transients," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 270-279.
    20. Gbenou, Tadagbe Roger Sylvanus & Fopah-Lele, Armand & Wang, Kejian, 2022. "Macroscopic and microscopic investigations of low-temperature thermochemical heat storage reactors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:19:p:7061-:d:925391. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.