Abstract
Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ
(BSCF) membrane can be very effective in hydrogen production from
high-temperature water splitting by the in-situ permeation of oxygen
through the membrane. However, the BSCF membrane cannot initiate the
water splitting reaction at moderate temperature (750-950oC); hence a
catalyst is required. Herein, we have developed and evaluated a new
BaCexFe1-xO3-δ catalyst. The concentration of cerium was varied to
determine its effect on the cubic structure. XRD results confirmed the
cubic structure was maintained up to 20 mol% of cerium. The
BaCe0.2Fe0.8O3-δ powder was coated as a catalyst on the BSCF membrane
and evaluated for hydrogen production in a water-splitting membrane
reactor. The obtained results revealed that hydrogen production rate
increases with increasing temperature, methane concentration in the
sweep gas, and water concentration in the feed gas. The highest hydrogen
production rate (0.38μmol/cm2s) was obtained at 925oC
using 15% CH4 in the sweep and 55% H2O
in the feed.