Abstract Synthesizing solids in molten fluxes enables the rapid diffusion of soluble species at temperatures lower than in solid‐state reactions, leading to crystal formation of kinetically stable compounds. In this study, we demonstrate the effectiveness of mixed hydroxide and halide fluxes in synthesizing complex Sr/Ag/Se in mixed LiOH/LiCl. We have accessed a series of two‐dimensional Sr(Ag1−xLix)2Se2layered phases. With increased LiOH/LiCl ratio or reaction temperature, Li partially substituted Ag to form solid solutions of Sr(Ag1−xLix)2Se2withxup to 0.45. In addition, a new type of intergrowth compound [Sr3Se2][(Ag1−xLix)2Se2] was synthesized upon further reaction of Sr(Ag1−xLix)2Se2with SrSe. Both Sr(Ag1−xLix)2Se2and [Sr3Se2][(Ag1−xLix)2Se2] exhibit a direct band gap, which increases with increasing Li substitution (x). Therefore, the band gap of Sr(Ag1−xLix)2Se2can be precisely tuned via fine‐tuningxthat is controlled by only the flux ratio and temperature.
more »
« less
Mathematical Modeling of High-Temperature Multiphase Solid/Molten Carbonate Membranes for CO 2 Capture
High-temperature solid/molten-carbonate composite represent an emerging class of CO2transport membranes to capture CO2from flue gas with advantages in flux density and selectivity over conventional solvent/sorbent- and polymer-based counterparts. While significant technical progress in these membranes has been made in the past years, a deeper fundamental understanding of CO2transport mechanisms is still limited. Aimed to bridge this gap, we here report a theoretical study on flux performances of four types of solid/molten-carbonate CO2transport membranes by analytical and numerical modeling. We found that analytical and numerical results are virtually identical for solids with single charge carrier. However, for mixed conducting solids, numerical methods are preferred since analytical methods cannot solve the nonlinear local concentrations of charge carriers. Application of numerical method to a new three-phase membrane containing a mixed conducting solid, a pure electron conducting solid and molten-carbonate reveals a ∼90% increase in CO2flux compared to the two-phase (mixed conducting solid and molten-carbonate) counterpart. The models presented here are expected to provide better fundamental insights and guidance for designing next-generation high-performance CO2transport membranes.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1924095
- PAR ID:
- 10204846
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Electrochemical Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of The Electrochemical Society
- Volume:
- 167
- Issue:
- 16
- ISSN:
- 0013-4651
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- Article No. 164512
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Direct conversion of methane into ethylene through the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is a technically important reaction. However, conventional co-fed fixed-bed OCM reactors still face serious challenges in conversion and selectivity. In this paper, we apply a finite element model to simulate OCM reaction in a plug-flow CO2/O2transport membrane (CTM) reactor with a directly captured CO2and O2mixture as a soft oxidizer. The CTM is made of three phases: molten carbonate, 20% Sm-doped CeO2, and LiNiO2. The membrane parameters are first validated by CO2/O2flux data obtained from CTM experiments. The OCM reaction is then simulated along the length of tubular plug-flow reactors filled with a La2O3-CaO-modified CeO2catalyst bed, while a mixture of CO2/O2is gradually added through the wall of the tubular membrane. A 12-step OCM kinetic mechanism is considered in the model for the catalyst bed and validated by data obtained from a co-fed fixed-bed reactor. The modeled results indicate a much-improved OCM performance by membrane reactor in terms of C2-yield and CH4conversion rate over the state-of-the-art, co-fed, fixed-bed reactor. The model further reveals that improved performance is fundamentally rooted in the gradual methane conversion with CO2/O2offered by the plug-flow membrane reactor.more » « less
-
Abstract The cycling of biologically produced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the ocean is a fundamental component of the global carbon cycle. Here, we present experimental determinations of in situ coccolith and foraminiferal calcite dissolution rates. We combine these rates with solid phase fluxes, dissolved tracers, and historical data to constrain the alkalinity cycle in the shallow North Pacific Ocean. The in situ dissolution rates of coccolithophores demonstrate a nonlinear dependence on saturation state. Dissolution rates of all three major calcifying groups (coccoliths, foraminifera, and aragonitic pteropods) are too slow to explain the patterns of both CaCO3sinking flux and alkalinity regeneration in the North Pacific. Using a combination of dissolved and solid‐phase tracers, we document a significant dissolution signal in seawater supersaturated for calcite. Driving CaCO3dissolution with a combination of ambient saturation state and oxygen consumption simultaneously explains solid‐phase CaCO3flux profiles and patterns of alkalinity regeneration across the entire N. Pacific basin. We do not need to invoke the presence of carbonate phases with higher solubilities. Instead, biomineralization and metabolic processes intimately associate the acid (CO2) and the base (CaCO3) in the same particles, driving the coupled shallow remineralization of organic carbon and CaCO3. The linkage of these processes likely occurs through a combination of dissolution due to zooplankton grazing and microbial aerobic respiration within degrading particle aggregates. The coupling of these cycles acts as a major filter on the export of both organic and inorganic carbon to the deep ocean.more » « less
-
Abstract Dual‐ion batteries that use anions and cations as charge carriers represent a promising energy‐storage technology. However, an uncharted area is to explore transition metals as electrodes to host carbonate in conversion reactions. Here we report the reversible conversion reaction from copper to Cu2CO3(OH)2, where the copper electrode comprising K2CO3and KOH solid is self‐sufficient with anion‐charge carriers. This electrode dissociates and associates K+ions during battery charge and discharge. The copper active mass and the anion‐bearing cathode exhibit a reversible capacity of 664 mAh g−1and 299 mAh g−1, respectively, and relatively stable cycling in a saturated mixture electrolyte of K2CO3and KOH. The results open an avenue to use carbonate as a charge carrier for batteries to serve for the consumption and storage of CO2.more » « less
-
Abstract Many of the studies on the entropy‐stabilized oxide (Mg0.2Co0.2Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.2)O have been heavily application‐based. Previous works have studied effects of cation stoichiometry on the entropy‐driven reaction to form a single phase, but a fundamental exploration of the effects of anion stoichiometry and/or redox chemistry on electrical properties is lacking. Using near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and electrical measurements, we show that oxidizing thin film samples of (Mg0.2Co0.2Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.2)O affects primarily the valence of Co, leaving the other cations in this high‐entropy system unchanged. This oxidation increases electrical conduction in these thin films, which occurs via small polaron hopping mediated by the Co valence shift from 2+ to a mixed 2+/3+ state. In parallel, we show that bulk samples sintered in an oxygen‐rich atmosphere have a lower activation energy for electrical conduction than those equilibrated in a nitrogen (reducing) atmosphere. Combining feasible defect compensation scenarios with electrical impedance measurements and NEXAFS data, we propose a self‐consistent interpretation of Co redox‐mediated small polaron conduction as the dominant method of charge transfer in this system.more » « less
An official website of the United States government
