Janka Seeger

Enhanced H2 Separation through Mixed Proton–Electron Conducting Membranes Based on La5.5W0.8M0.2O11.25−δ

La(5.5) WO11.25-δ is a proton-conducting oxide that shows high protonic conductivity, sufficient electronic conductivity, and stability in moist CO2 environments. However, the H2 flows achieved to date when using La(5.5) WO11.25-δ membranes are still below the threshold for practical application in industrial processes. With the aim of improving the H2 flow obtained with this material, La(5.5) WO11.25-δ was doped in the W position by using Re and Mo; the chosen stoichiometry was La(5.5) W0.8 M0.2 O11.25-δ . This work presents the electrochemical characterization of these two compounds under reducing conditions, the H2 separation properties, as well as the influence of the H2 concentration in the feed stream, degree of humidification, and operating temperature. Doping with both Re and Mo enabled the magnitude of H2 permeation to be enhanced, reaching unrivaled values of up to 0.095 mL min(-1) cm(-2) at 700 °C for a La(5.5) W0.8 Re0.2 O11.25-δ membrane (760 μm thick). The spent membranes were investigated by using XRD, SEM, and TEM on focused-ion beam lamellas. Furthermore, the stability in CO2 -rich and H2 S-containing atmospheres was evaluated, and the compounds were shown to be stable in the atmospheres studied.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nonsubstituted and Substituted Proton-Conducting La6–xWO12–y

Mixed proton-electron conductors (MPEC) can be used as gas separation membranes to extract hydrogen from a gas stream, for example, in a power plant. From the different MPEC, the ceramic material lanthanum tungstate presents an important mixed protonic-electronic conductivity. Lanthanum tungstate La(6-x)WO(12-y) (with y = 1.5x + δ and x = 0.5-0.8) compounds were prepared with La/W ratios between 4.8 and 6.0 and sintered at temperatures between 1300 and 1500 °C in order to study the dependence of the single-phase formation region on the La/W ratio and temperature. Furthermore, compounds substituted in the La or W position were prepared. Ce, Nd, Tb, and Y were used for partial substitution at the La site, while Ir, Re, and Mo were applied for W substitution. All substituents were applied in different concentrations. The electrical conductivity of nonsubstituted La(6-x)WO(12-y) and for all substituted La(6-x)WO(12-y) compounds was measured in the temperature range of 400-900 °C in wet (2.5% H2O) and dry mixtures of 4% H2 in Ar. The greatest improvement in the electrical characteristics was found in the case of 20 mol % substitution with both Re and Mo. After treatment in 100% H2 at 800 °C, the compounds remained unchanged as confirmed with XRD, Raman, and SEM.

Nanoscale order in the frustrated mixed conductor La5.6WO12-δ

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB), Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), 6 rue Jules Horowitz, BP 220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstrasse 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany, European Spallation Source ESS AB, Box 176, 22100 Lund, Sweden, Instituto de Tecnologı́a Quı́mica (UPV-CSIC), Avenida los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ), 52425 Jülich, Germany, and Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany. *Correspondence e-mail: tobias.scherb@helmholtz-berlin.de