Solar Hydrogen From Water Splitting Using Liquid Metal Oxidation/Reduction Cycles Promoted by Electrochemistry

closed

This project is developing a solar-powered hydrogen production process based on a stoichiometric, two-step, metal oxide water splitting cycle that combines thermochemical hydrogen production with electrochemical metal oxide reduction. Hybridizing the two-step cycle avoids costly separation processes and ultra-high cycle temperatures enabling a practical and efficient route to cost-effective solar fuels. This will be accomplished by using molten salt electrolysis to manipulate cycle thermodynamics. Knowledge gained from this project will inform system studies that yield cost projections for large-scale plant construction and operation, from which a credible path towards commercialization can be derived.