Thermo-chemical water splitting can be accomplished in a two step cycle using the Zn/ZnO redox system. In the first step, ZnO is thermally decomposed at temperatures above 1600°C to form small zinc particles after fast thermal quenching. The second step of this cycle where the Zn particles react with water at low temperatures to form H{sub}2 and ZnO has been studied in an aerosol flow reactor. Temperatures above 350°C were necessary for significant conversion. The measurements were carried out below the Zn melting point of 419°C to maintain aerosol flow and minimize agglomeration and wall deposition. Two particle sizes of ~5 μm and ~0.15 μm were investigated at residence times of ~1 second and feed concentrations in the range of 0.01 g/l. The smaller particles showed more rapid conversions but deposition in the reactor was more pronounced.
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