Thermodynamic guiding principles of high-capacity phase transformation materials for splitting H2O and CO2 by thermochemical looping

Thermochemical looping splitting of water and carbon dioxide (CO2) with greenhouse-gas-free (GHG-free) energy has the potential to help address the Gt-scale GHG emissions challenge. Reaction thermodynamics largely contributes to the...

Plausibility of Early Life in a Relatively Wide Temperature Range: Clues from Simulated Metabolic Network Expansion

The debate on the temperature of the environment where life originated is still inconclusive. Metabolic reactions constitute the basis of life, and may be a window to the world where early life was born. Temperature is an important parameter of reaction thermodynamics, which determines whether metabolic reactions can proceed. In this study, the scale of the prebiotic metabolic network at different temperatures was examined by a thermodynamically constrained network expansion simulation. It was found that temperature has limited influence on the scale of the simulated metabolic networks, implying that early life may have occurred in a relatively wide temperature range.

Water Activity Regulates CO2 Reduction in Gas-Diffusion Electrodes

<p>Electrochemical CO₂ reduction has recently reached current densities as high as 1 A cm^-2, enabled by improving diffusion of CO₂ from the gas phase to the electrocatalyst by use of gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and by improving electrolyte ionic conductivity with concentrated hydroxide electrolytes (7 M KOH). Despite such high solute concentrations, the dilute electrolyte assumption is commonly used to evaluate the thermodynamics of the system, specifically reaction equilibrium potential and reaction rate expression. Here we establish a paradigm shift by demonstrating how to properly include the activity of water and solutes and highlighting corrections to associated reaction thermodynamics.</p>

Water Activity Regulates CO2 Reduction in Gas-Diffusion Electrodes

<p>Electrochemical CO₂ reduction has recently reached current densities as high as 1 A cm^-2, enabled by improving diffusion of CO₂ from the gas phase to the electrocatalyst by use of gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and by improving electrolyte ionic conductivity with concentrated hydroxide electrolytes (7 M KOH). Despite such high solute concentrations, the dilute electrolyte assumption is commonly used to evaluate the thermodynamics of the system, specifically reaction equilibrium potential and reaction rate expression. Here we establish a paradigm shift by demonstrating how to properly include the activity of water and solutes and highlighting corrections to associated reaction thermodynamics.</p>

The reverse water gas shift reaction: a process systems engineering perspective

RWGS reaction thermodynamics, mechanisms and kinetics. Process design and process intensification – from lab scale to industrial applications and CO2 value chains. Pathways for further improvement of catalytic systems, reactor and process design.