Metal oxide/metal sulfate water splitting cycle for hydrogen generation

Abstract

This study reports the thermodynamic analysis of the cobalt oxide - cobalt sulfate (CoO - CoS) based water splitting cycle. CoO-CoS cycle consists of two steps: first step - exothermic oxidation of CoO via water splitting reaction producing H2, and second step - the CoSO4 is thermally decomposed into CoO, SO2, and O2. The CoO is recycled back to first step and can be used in multiple steps. This study is divided into two steps: 1. Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis, and 2. Second law energy and exergy analysis. At the end, the efficiency of CoO-CoS cycle is calculated and the results of the thermodynamic analysis are reported in detail.