Highly effective CO2 splitting in a plasma-assisted membrane reactor

Abstract

Membrane reactors offer a promising approach to converting CO2 into chemicals, fuels, and value-added products. However, challenges remain in its high energy input and deactivation of the catalyst. Here, we report a breakthrough strategy that uses dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to enhance the CO2 splitting in a perovskite-based La0.6Sr0.4Co0.5Fe0.5O3-δ (LSCF) membrane reactor where a traditional catalyst is not required however instead relies on the highly reactive species generated by the CO2 plasma. The CO2 conversion, physical and chemical evolution of membranes at different temperatures, CO2 plasma power, and purging gas were systematically investigated. The maximum CO2 conversion was achieved at 800 °C and 25 W while reaching 10.6%, 20.0%, and 28.0% via helium, complete oxidation of methane, and partial oxidation of methane purging on the permeate side, respectively. The experimental results obtained under low plasma power consumption suggest that the plasma-assisted membrane reactor strategy has the potential to be energy-efficient and sustainable, particularly when combined with renewable energy sources.