Ceria Based Materials with Enhanced OSC Properties for H₂ Production by Water Splitting Reaction

Abstract:

A novel surfactant-assisted synthesis method was developed in our laboratory to enhance the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and the thermo stability of a TWC catalyst based on zirconia and rare earth oxides. The same procedure was used to prepare ceria-zirconia compositions with different amount of ceria, either undoped or doped with La and Nd. The potential use of these materials in a two steps solar thermochemical water splitting cycle for the production of H₂ was investigated. For this proposal the O₂ release of the materials was measured through thermogravimetric analysis in N₂ at 1573K. Then all prepared compositions were subjected to an aging treatment at temperature above 1573K in air or in N₂ flow and their activity in producing H₂ via water splitting at 1073K was evaluated with respect their structural evolution. The results obtained highlight that the reactivity depends on the temperature and atmosphere of the treatments and on the composition. The best result was obtained for the ceria rich composition treated at 1573K in N₂ and for the corresponding doped composition treated in air.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 93)
• Pages: 76-81
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.93.76
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Alfonsina Pappacena, Marta Boaro*, Olga Šolcová, Alessandro Trovarelli
• Keywords: CeO₂-ZrO₂, H₂ Production, Water Splitting

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