YSZ-Based Dual-Phase Membrane Reactors for H₂ Production by Coupling Water Splitting with CO₂ Capture

Mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) membrane reactors are a promising technology for H2 production through coupling of H2O splitting with CO2 capture. To meet the high reliability requirement to the membrane reactors for an industrial process, it is necessary to develop membrane materials with high mechanical strength and high chemical stability. In this work, a series of x wt % YSZ-(98 – x) wt % La0.7Sr0.27Cr0.4Fe0.6O3−δ-2 wt % CuO (x = 40, 50, 60 and 70; denoted as YL4, YL5, YL6, and YL7, respectively) dual-phase membranes were prepared for coupling water splitting with CO2 capture. The results demonstrate that the mechanical strength of the dual-phase membrane increases significantly with the addition of YSZ and is much higher than that of the single perovskite material LSCF. The conductivity and H2 production rates increase in the order of YL4 > YL5 > YL6 > YL7. The structure stability of the perovskite phase in dual-phase membranes increases with the content of YSZ phase under the operation condition of membrane reactors. The YL6-based membrane reactor was operated steadily for 290 h, indicating that it is a promising membrane material for H2 production by coupling water splitting with CO2 capture.