Novel perovskite materials for thermal water splitting at moderate temperature

Materials with the formula Sr2CoNb1−xTixO6−delta (x=1.00, 0.70; delta=number of oxygen vacancies) present a cubic perovskite‐like structure. They are easily and reversibly reduced in N2 or Ar and re‐oxidized in air upon heating. Oxidation by water (wet N2), involving splitting of water at a temperature as low as 700 °C, produces hydrogen. Both compounds displayed outstanding H2 production in the first thermochemical cycle, the Sr2CoNb0.30Ti0.70O6−delta material retaining its outstanding performance upon cycling, whereas the hydrogen yield of the x=1 oxide showed a continuous decay. The retention of the materials' ability to promote water splitting correlated with their structural, chemical, and redox reversibility upon cycling. On reduction/oxidation, Co ions reversibly changed their oxidation state to compensate the release/recovery of oxygen in both compounds. However, in Sr2CoTiO6−delta, two phases with different oxygen contents segregated, whereas in Sr2CoNb0.30Ti0.70O6−delta this effect was not evident. Therefore, this latter material displayed a hydrogen production as high as 410 mumol H2 g−1perovskite after eight thermochemical cycles at 700 °C, which is among the highest ever reported, making this perovskite a promising candidate for thermosolar water splitting in real devices.

hydrogen generation; perovskite phases; solar fuel; thermochemical cycle; water splitting

Novel perovskite materials for thermal water splitting at moderate temperature Articles