Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Oxide Energy Storage Materials

Abstract

In this study, procedures for the solid state and sol-gel synthesis of metal oxides were developed for the purpose of thermochemical energy storage materials. The metal oxides or (blends of them) were suggested by Joakim Brorsson et al., in at the time of writing, unpublished research where he mines databases that fits the desired thermodynamical properties for thermochemical energy storage. Magnesium chro mate, lithium aluminate, lithium chromate and calcium chromate where successfully synthesised by either one or both methods of synthesis, confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. Barium Oxide had to be purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Utilising thermogravimetric analysis, a reference from was cuprous oxide was pro duced to compare observations on the metal oxide systems oxidation and reduction reactions. This data was utilised to calculate the systems conversion yield. Rough estimations of reaction kinetics of the systems where also utilised in comparison to the cuprous oxide reference. Calcium chromate and barium oxide where found to be good candidates for the application of thermochemical energy storage as the chalcium chromates, made through solid state synthesis, weight changed by 8%, and the barium oxides’ weight changed by 10%.