Tailored Nanostructured Particles for Flexible Thermochemical Energy Storage

Thermochemical energy storage (TcES) is a promising technology for recovery of wasted thermal energy from industrial processes and for concentrated solar power. TcES has advantages of high temperature operation for, e.g., metallurgical or chemical processing applications; very low heat losses; and high energy storage densities, and therefore represents significant benefits for industry and society in terms of increased energy productivity and reduced environmental harm. TcES is based on reversible gas-solid reactions. Major hurdles are that the energy storage materials currently available for high-temperature operation (600-1200 °C) tend to suffer from material structure degradation during cycling, causing a progressive loss in thermal energy storage performance. Moreover, the methods available to manufacture synthetic TcES materials typically require long processing times and do not provide sufficient control of the particle properties. The objective of this project is to address these challenges using a transformative aerosol synthesis technology and novel stabilization routes for advanced thermochemical energy storagematerials. The aerosol technology is a low-cost, single-step, and environmentally-friendly method allowing control of (1) the necessary material properties: the size, morphology and surface area of the TcES particles; and (2) the targeted incorporation of chemical elements that stabilize the materialstructure during thermal cycling. This focused SBIR/STTR research and development program will synthesize TcES materials using innovative aerosol technologies developed by the applicant, and characterize the thermal storage performance against specific technical targets: gravimetricand volumetric energy density, operation temperature, and short and long-term cycling stability. Through detailed material characterisation we will derive quantitative materials-based relationships between aerosol synthesis parameters and thermal cycling stability. These pilot studies will guide the design of a scaled-up synthesis reactor for the Phase II funding stage. The high-stability materials and aerosol synthesis technology developed in this Phase I project will accelerate TcES integration into existing metal and chemical industries requiring high temperature thermal energy. In the US alone, of the 7 trillion kWh of energy consumed by the industrial sector, approximately half is used for process heating, and around 30% is wasted leading to ~ trillion kWh of thermal energy that can be potentially recovered. These figures indicate the huge potential for thermal storage technologies, including those based on the materials that will be developed in this R&D program. This technology will increase US industry energy productivity and competitiveness, and result in significant decrease of CO2 and other pollutant emissions by reducing the quantity of thermal energy that must be raised by combustion. Furthermore, high-stability materials will enable innovative applications of thermal energy processing technologies in the future. Looking forward to Phase II, this project will establish a pathway to commercialization of advanced TcES materials and products.