SBA-16-Mediated Nanoparticles Enabling Accelerated Kinetics in Cyclic Methane Conversion to Syngas at Low Temperatures

Abstract

To meet the globally growing energy demands, it is essential to develop schemes with higher fuel conversion efficiency at temperatures <1000 °C while suppressing emissions of CO2. Iron oxide nanoparticles supported by mesoporous silica SBA-16 (Fe2O3@SBA-16) is conceived and developed in this study for chemical looping partial oxidation, yielding syngas selectivity above 95% with operating temperatures as low as around 400 °C is achieved, a temperature that is 600 °C lower than the conventional operating temperature. The methane conversion rate for Fe2O3@SBA-16 is 52 and 660% higher than those for established nanoparticle oxygen carriers and bulk oxygen carriers, respectively. Dynamic Monte Carlo simulations are conducted that demonstrate the distinct effects of nanoparticle loading and particle size distribution on 3-D interconnected Fe2O3@SBA-16, affirming its accelerated reaction kinetics. This finding has significant implications in mesoporous materials and broadens research domains in other cyclic redox energy systems.