BASIC CHEMISTRY OF A NEW CYCLE, BASED ON REACTIONS OF CE(III) TITANATE, FOR SPLITTING WATER

The chemistry of a new thermochemical cycle for splitting water is described. It consists essentially of three reactions: (a) Ce(IV), as CeO2, is reduced to Ce(III) by reaction with TiO2, evolving oxygen and forming one or more Ce(III) titanates; (b) the Ce(III) titanates react with molten NaOH to evolve hydrogen, and form CeO2 and Na-titanate; and (c) the sodium titanate is hydrolyzed by boiling water into a hydrous titanium dioxide and a sodium hydroxide solution. The cycle has been demonstrated with regenerated materials. © 1980.