Demonstration of an Iron Oxide Mediated Solar Decoupled Electrolysis Cycle

Authors

Sarah Hill, Valparaiso UniversityFollow
Paul Smith, Valparaiso UniversityFollow

Faculty Sponsor

Paul Smith

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Chemistry

ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0001-5223-0690

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-26-2023

Abstract

A solar decoupled electrolysis cycle with iron oxide mediators first proposed eleven years ago is demonstrated here. The James Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) at Valparaiso University uses concentrated sunlight to reduce hematite at 1500 ℃, evolving oxygen and producing magnetite. Magnetite can then be dissolved in water at pH 5 using hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP). Aqueous Fe²⁺ serves as the anode for the reduction of water to hydrogen, as demonstrated by a visual H₂ detection assay. Finally, alkaline solutions of Fe³⁺ + HEDP upon concentration produce a precipitate characterized as goethite α-FeOOH by Raman spectroscopy, completing the cycle.

Recommended Citation

Hill, Sarah and Smith, Paul, "Demonstration of an Iron Oxide Mediated Solar Decoupled Electrolysis Cycle" (2023). Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. 139.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/sires/139