Chemical and physical tuning of materials for future-generation methane-to-hydrogen conversion

We have developed a novel gas-solid reactor design using non-stoichiometric oxides as oxygen-carrier materials (OCMs). The OCM develops a gradient in oxygen potential along the length of the chemical reactor. These varying oxidation potentials have many advantages, such as overcoming the chemical equilibrium constraints encountered in conventional reactors. We have demonstrated the principle of operation using the water-gas shift reaction and published high-impact publications in Nature Chemistry with ESRF co-authors and in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., ACS Appl. Energy Mater. and ACS Nano. We now seek to extend this work to direct, one-step methane-to-hydrogen production. This could be a breakthrough technology for a future low-carbon fuel economy. This work will involve two strands, (i) controlling the oxygen capacity and chemical potential via doping strategies and materials selection, (ii) producing OCMs with novel properties by harnessing exsolution processes.