Theoretical assessment of hydrogen production and multicycle energy conversion via solar thermochemical cycle based on nonvolatile SnO2

A kind of solar thermochemical cycle based on methanothermal reduction of SnO2 is proposed for H2 and CO production. We find that the oxygen release capacity and thermodynamic driven force for methanothermal reduction of SnO2 are large, and suggest CH4 :SnO2 = 2:1 as the feasible reduction condition for achieving high purities of syngas and avoiding vaporization of produced Sn. Subsequently, the amount of H2 and energetic upgrade factors under different oxidation conditions are compared, in which excess water vapor is found beneficial for hydrogen production and fuel energetic upgradation. Moreover, the effect of incom plete recovery of SnO2 on the subsequent cycle is underscored and explained. After accounting for factors such as isothermal operation and cycle stability, CH4 :SnO2 = 2:1 and H2O:Sn = 4:1 are suggested for highest solar-to-fuel efficiency of 46.1% at nonisothermal condition, where the reduction and oxidation temperature are 1400 and 600 K, respectively.