Preparation of CuFe<SUB align=right>2O<SUB align=right>4 and its preliminary application study in two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle

Abstract

Thermochemical water splitting cycles based on metal oxides were developed. Copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) with spinel structure was prepared by the co-precipitation method, and the thermo-decomposition conditions to form the oxygen-deficient oxides by calcination were investigated. CuFe2O4 was thermochemically activated to form an oxygen-deficient one, CuFe2O4-8 under nitrogen at elevated temperature below 1000?C. The activated copper ferrite reacted with water to form hydrogen gas at about 800?C. The feasibility of the thermochemical cycle using CuFe2O4 was confirmed.