Preparation and CO2 capture properties of nanocrystalline Li2ZrO3 via an epoxide-mediated sol–gel process

Abstract

Nanocrystalline lithium zirconate (Li2ZrO3) was successfully prepared by an epoxide-mediated sol–gel process. The compositions and morphologies of Li2ZrO3 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and the CO2 capture-regeneration properties of Li2ZrO3 were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The introduction of propylene oxide as an acid scavenger increases the pH value of the system to mediate the sol–gel transition. The as-dried xerogel is amorphous and the nano-sized Li2ZrO3 crystallites with a tetragonal phase precipitate after heat-treatment at 650 °C. The nanocrystalline tetragonal-Li2ZrO3 exhibits a better CO2 capture properties, possessing an adsorption capacity as high as 21 wt.% at 550 °C and a good stability confirmed by CO2 capture-regeneration cycles. Nanocrystalline Li2ZrO3 possessing good CO2 capture properties was successfully prepared by an epoxide-mediated sol–gel process.