Title: Preparation of CuFe₂O₄ and its preliminary application study in two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle

Authors: Ping Zhang, Lei Zhang, Rongjia Nie, Jianchen Wang

Addresses: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China. ' Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China. ' Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China. ' Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

Abstract: Thermochemical water splitting cycles based on metal oxides were developed. Copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄) with spinel structure was prepared by the co-precipitation method, and the thermo-decomposition conditions to form the oxygen-deficient oxides by calcination were investigated. CuFe₂O₄ was thermochemically activated to form an oxygen-deficient one, CuFe₂O_4-8 under nitrogen at elevated temperature below 1000°C. The activated copper ferrite reacted with water to form hydrogen gas at about 800°C. The feasibility of the thermochemical cycle using CuFe₂O₄ was confirmed.

Keywords: copper ferrites; co-precipitation; hydrogen production; oxygen deficiency; water splitting; metal oxides; calcination.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNHPA.2008.019450

International Journal of Nuclear Hydrogen Production and Applications, 2008 Vol.1 No.3, pp.219 - 228

Published online: 11 Jul 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article