Abstract
We report iron-containing mixed-oxide nanocomposites as highly effective redox materials for thermochemical CO(2) splitting and methane partial oxidation in a cyclic redox scheme, where methane was introduced as an oxygen "sink" to promote the reduction of the redox materials followed by reoxidation through CO(2) splitting. Up to 96% syngas selectivity in the methane partial oxidation step and close to complete conversion of CO(2) to CO in the CO(2)-splitting step were achieved at 900° to 980°C with good redox stability. The productivity and production rate of CO in the CO(2)-splitting step were about seven times higher than those in state-of-the-art solar-thermal CO(2)-splitting processes, which are carried out at significantly higher temperatures. The proposed approach can potentially be applied for acetic acid synthesis with up to 84% reduction in CO(2) emission when compared to state-of-the-art processes.