Mixed-up metals for chemical-looping combustion

Research Project, 2021 – 2024

The aim of this application is to study high-entropy materials for chemical-looping (CLC). During the last decade new types of multi-component alloys and oxides with high configurational entropy have been developed. This new class of materials, which contains at least 5 equiatomic elements, have been shown to posses a number of interesting and unique properties. We will study the applicability of such materials as oxygen carriers in chemical-looping. CLC is a form of unmixed combustion. It is based on a transfer of oxygen from air to fuel using oxygen-carriers. The technique is applicable to carbon capture, and with biomass as fuel, results in actual carbon removal from the atmosphere. Our group demonstrated the technology already in 2003, and since then made significant contributions. Our previous research has shown that the thermodynamics and kinetics of oxygen carriers can be enhanced using combined oxides, and the use of high-entropy materials could open up for many new compositions with high reactivity and stability.A range of complementary experiments and modelling tools at different time and length scales will be used. The project will focus on three main parts: i) computational and experimental screening of different high entropy materials, ii) synthesis and detailed characterization of viable oxygen carriers and iii) investigation of kinetics and stability. The final aim is to produce a promising material and investigate in circulating pilot-units.