Integration of thermochemical water splitting with CO₂ direct air capture

Renewable production of fuels and chemicals from direct air capture (DAC) of CO₂ is a highly desired goal. Here, we report the integration of the DAC of CO₂ with the thermochemical splitting of water to produce CO₂, H₂, O₂, and electricity. The produced CO₂ and H₂ can be converted to value-added chemicals via existing technologies. The integrated process uses thermal solar energy as the only energy input and has the potential to provide the dual benefits of combating anthropogenic climate change while creating renewable chemicals. A sodium-manganese-carbonate (Mn-Na-CO₂) thermochemical water-splitting cycle that simultaneously drives renewable H₂ production and DAC of CO₂ is demonstrated. An integrated reactor is designed and fabricated to conduct all steps of the thermochemical water-splitting cycle that produces close to stoichiometric amounts (∼90%) of H₂ and O₂ (illustrated with 6 consecutive cycles). The ability of the cycle to capture 75% of the ∼400 ppm CO₂ from air is demonstrated also. A technoeconomic analysis of the integrated process for the renewable production of H₂, O₂, and electricity, as well as DAC of CO₂ shows that the proposed scheme of solar-driven H₂ production from thermochemical water splitting coupled with CO₂ DAC may be economically viable under certain circumstances.