Defect Chemistry and Chemical Looping Performance of La_1-xM_xMnO₃ (M = Sr, Ca, (x = 0-0.5)) Perovskites

La_1-xM_xMnO₃ (M = Sr, Ca, (x = 0-0.5)) materials of the perovskite structure are synthesized by a co-precipitation method. They are subsequently investigated for their performance in a chemical looping process (fuel CH₄) using thermogravimetric analysis with simultaneous reaction. The goal of this work is to determine the relation between the defect chemistry of the materials and their behavior in chemical looping processes. A defect model is proposed that provides an explanation of the dependency of the Oxygen Transfer Capacity and of the CO₂/CO selectivity on composition. It appeared that the fuel may react with various types of oxygen available within the materials, generated by different mechanisms. The relative amounts of each oxygen type determine the CO₂/CO selectivity and depend on the material composition as well as on the partial pressure of oxygen used for regenerating the materials.