Oxygen Ion Transport in Molten Oxide Membranes for Air Separation and Energy Conversion

Abstract

© 2017 The Author(s). Molten oxide membranes (MOMs) are a new class of ion transport inorganic membranes which demonstrate superior oxygen selectivity and permeability and could be used in electrochemical devices such as molten oxide fuel cells (MOFCs) and oxygen separators for energy conversion and air separation, respectively [Acc. Chem. Res., 50, 273 (2017)]. However, oxygen ion transport mechanisms in MOM materials are not clear enough. Understanding the oxygen ion transport mechanisms in molten oxides is important for the discovery of new MOM materials with enhanced performances that can enable the operation of the electrochemical devices more efficiently. Here we suggest an approach that adapts a dynamic polymer chain model, developed for specific molten oxides, to a wide range of melts. This generic model can evaluate the oxygen permeation fluxes through different MOM materials that are comparable to experimental data.